Thursday, February 24, 2011

Julian Assange Must Be Extradited, Judge Rules

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to Sweden for alleged sex offences, a judge has ruled.

District Judge Howard Riddle rejected the defence's claims that their client could not get a fair trial because of media coverage and even comments by the country's Prime Minister in Parliament.

The 39-year-old Australian faces three charges of sexually assaulting one woman and one charge of raping another during a week-long visit to Stockholm in August. >>> | Thursday, February 24, 2011

Julian Assange to Be Extradited to Sweden

THE GUARDIAN: WikiLeaks founder handed verdict at Belmarsh magistrates court

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to be extradited to Sweden to face allegations of rape and sexual assault. Assange will appeal, his legal team confirmed. If this is unsuccessful, he will be extradited to Sweden in 10 days.

Delivering his ruling at a hearing at Belmarsh magistrates court in London, the chief magistrate Howard Riddle systematically dismissed each of the defence's arguments against Assange's extradition.

Assange's legal team had disputed that Swedish prosecutor, Marianne Ny, had the authority to issue a European arrest warrant, but the judge ruled that she did possess this authority and the warrant issued was valid. >>> Esther Addley and Alexandra Topping | Thursday, February 24, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Julian Assange extradition decision: full judgment – Read the judgment ordering the Wikileaks founder to be extradited to Sweden to face allegations of rape and sexual assault >>> | Thursday, February 24, 2011

THE GUARDIAN – BLOG: Follow reactions to the ruling on The Guardian’s live blog >>>