Outside Westminster Magistrates' Court for Julian Assange's…

Craig Murray, ex-diplomat & whistleblower, says he's "very optimistic" Assange will be granted bail because no one who has had their extradition blocked on medical grounds has had the decision reversed upon appeal, so there's no incentive to abscond.

via @SputnikInt

Assange's fiancée @StellaMoris1 & @khrafnsson & @SwaziJAF of WikiLeaks are being temporarily prevented from entering court building. It's unclear why. It could simply be because they've temporarily blocked people from entering for the Assange case and are allowing others through.

Press still not being allowed in. Poorly managed situation. I can't risk not being allowed into the video link room while I wait to get into the building. I've had to go around the corner and sit on some steps outside and follow via video link. Luckily I've got my WIFI broadcast.

Hearing hasn't started yet. Hands freezing cold. Can hear lawyers speaking to each other.

Judge has arrived hearing has begun.

Actually, judge has arrived but Assange doesn't appear to have arrived yet.

Assange has arrived.

Ms Dobbin gives objections to bail for the prosecution. "Madam this court has refused Assange bail" in the past as there was no means to guarantee his surrender, she says. She contends the same remains true today.

"The court has discharged Mr Assange on a single point, his mental health.... It hangs under a single thread".

“It’s the prosecutions submission here that it’s intention to appeal would be frustrated if Mr Assange was not remanded into custody”, Dobbin says

Clair Dobbin is now going into detail about how Assange assisted NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden evade capture by US authorities.

"The President of Mexico offered Mr Assange asylum in his daily press briefing" Clair Dobbin says further to her argument against granting bail to Assange.

“How could this court have any faith” due to his history that shows he's “capable to go to almost any length to avoid being extradited to the US” Dobbin says.
“The court cannot sensibly proceed on the basis that Mr Assange will simply take his chances”, she adds.

Assange also has "network of supporters" who could assist him in absconding whilst on bail, Clair Dobin says. She is also reciting his history when he sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy.

Mr Assange considers himself as "above the law" Dobbin argues, noting that people who put up surety last time lost "considerable sums".

Mr Assange is not someone "who felt the pressure or the moral pull" to addhear to prior bail conditions argues Dobbin who says that he "squandered" his bail surety "demonstrating the stringent [bail] conditions" were of "absolutely no consequence".

Prosecution argues that "flight is a far greater likelihood" if indeed Assange's mental health is suffering greatly. She also argues that protection of health and well being is a matter for the MOJ not for a matter of bail.

Clair Dobbin is saying the "most up to date" information she has for Belmarsh prison is that COVID-19 prisoners are now being moved to a separate location so that should keep Assange safer.

Clair Dobbin is also explaining a key aspect of what the US government intends to argue upon appeal. Namely, that the test that "it would be impossible to commit suicide" in the requesting state is not the test, Dobbin argues.

Dobbin is going into detail about their intended appeal that the approach the Judge applied was to apply a "higher threshold" than the European Court of Human Rights applied

Judge has interrupted Clair Dobbin saying she appreciates they intend to appeal but it's not needed to argue the whole argument. "I don't think there is any purpose in the context of the bail application of you setting all your grounds of appeal" Baraitser says.

“The defence relies upon Mr Assange having children in this jurisdiction… the point was made on the last occasion and was made again. Those children were born whilst he was in the embassy…. And it follows from that that they have never lived together.” Dobbin argues.

Outside Westminster Magistrates' Court for Julian Assange's latest bail hearing.

More from Legal

You May Also Like