Assange suffering from ‘respiratory problems’ in Belmarsh
Julian Assange was unable to attend court today (mon) because he has had ‘respiratory problems for some time’ while held in Belmarsh Prison.
The WikiLeaks founder, 48, is wanted in the US for allegedly conspiring with army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to expose military secrets between January and May 2010.
A US grand jury has indicted him on 18 charges – 17 of which fall under the Espionage Act – including conspiracy to receive, obtain and disclose classified diplomatic and military documents.
The Australian has been held on remand in the maximum security jail in Woolwich, southeast London, since April 2019 and has missed several recent hearings because he is ‘unwell’.
Staff at Westminster Magistrates’ Court received an email from the jail explaining Assange ‘has refused to attend court via video-link today’.
But his lawyer Edward Fitzgerald, QC, clarified that his absence was due to illness.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser had hoped to be able to confirm the location for the resumption of the extradition hearing on September 7 but she is ‘still waiting for confirmation about which court that will be’.
The judge told Mr Fitzgerald he has until August 25 to submit Assange’s skeleton argument, while James Lewis, QC, for the US government, will have until September 1.
A psychiatric report is also being prepared and will be submitted by July 31, the court heard.
Judge Baraitser said: ‘There is an email from HMP Belmarsh that suggests Mr Assange has refused to attend court via video-link today. Can I confirm he is too unwell to attend?’
Mr Fitzgerald replied: ‘That is correct. He has had respiratory problems for some time and he is not likely to attend today.’
Judge Baraitser added: ‘The venue is still being considered, I had hoped to be able to provide you with that information today but I’m still waiting for confirmation about which court that will be.’
Assange was granted political asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012 to avoid onward extradition to the US from Sweden for sexual offence allegations dating back to 2010 which he has always denied.
In November Swedish authorities dropped the rape allegations but he was jailed for 50 weeks last April after breaching his bail conditions when the asylum period granted to him expired.
Assange will remain in custody with a further administrative hearing set for June 29 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
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