Juan Passarelli Profile picture
Investigative Journalist and Filmmaker. I tell stories no one wants to hear. Check out our latest film, “The Six Billion Dollar Man” @6BDM_Doc.

Sep 7, 2020, 31 tweets

The hearing is about to commence, the defence say the have an application and that they need that #JulianAssange be present. They are waiting for him to be produced.
#AssangeCase

Thread second part of the day.

The defence is applied to adjourn the proceedings to have time to analyse the new allegations. They cannot respond to the allegations that were just presented in the last few weeks.
#AssangeCase

The defence argues that only #JulianAssange has the knowledge to build a defence. They say that they did not delayed it previously because he had not read the indictment, and still hasn't received all the documents necessary to make an appraisement.

The judge asks if they have spoken on the phone. The defence argues that the calls were short, and he did not the documents necessary to make an appraised decision. No video links were allowed. There have been very significant difficulties in communicating with him. #AssangeCase

Baraitser, asks how long does the defence need. The defence argues that it depends on the time that it takes to gather the evidence and a court can be made available. They consider January. #AssangeCase

The prosecution says that there needs to be more scrutiny on the application, they don't see how it could affect a fair trial issue.
#AssangeCase

The prosecution asks that the hearing continues but that it is the decision of the judge. They don't see how could the extra time could affect the outcome of the case in January.
The court adjourns for 10 minutes.
#AssangeCase

The judge has come back into court. #AssangeCase

We have no audio!

Baratiser says that they had 7 days to consider the delay and that they confirmed that no adjournment was needed. She says that the defence had no intention this morning to adjourn the hearing.

The application has been denied and proceedings will go ahead.
#AssangeCase

If it becomes apparent at a later stage, the defence may raise the issue of fairness in the case and ask for a delay further on.
#AssangeCase

Professor Mark Feldstein is on screen. He is having a hard time hearing the court.
#AssangeCase

Before he gives evidence he needs to swear a holy document or a give a solemn declaration. He chooses the declaration and struggles to follow the declaration.
#AssangeCase

There are technical issues trying to get the picture of Mr Feldstein on the court.
#AssangeCase

He is asked to speak to see if the issue is fixed, it has not.
#AssangeCase

The court has been adjourned for 10 minutes while they fix the issue. In the meantime the defence will coordinate an alternative time to give evidence if the proficient technical team at the court try to figure out how to do a video link.
#AssangeCase

They are starting to interview the witness. Feldstein states that the reports are accurate and written by him. His area of expertise is journalism history and investigative journalism.
#AssangeCase

The defence asks Feldstein about leaking of classified information to the press. He says that it is done on a frequent manner when it is convenient for the government. It is a routine practice. Those leaks show light on government behaviour and even abuse of power.
#AssangeCase

Feldstein says that there are journalists in the US that specialize in national security journalism which is dependent of government leaks.
#AssangeCase

The defence asks if he's aware of journalists publishing classified information. He says that there are thousands upon thousands of examples. The frequency of leaks is on a daily basis according to Feldstein.
#AssangeCase

Feldstein says that the first amendment protects the publishing of information. He is not aware of any journalists or publishers who has been indictment in history. He says that there is no precedence to this matter.
#AssangeCase

A grand jury has never charged a publisher for publishing information. There is no precedence for it.
The audio has been lost.
#AssangeCase

Feldstein is left wondering what happened, he reaches for his phone, he doesn't know if the court has adjourned. He is trying to figure out if the issue is on his end.
#AssangeCase

Fedlstein just said "this is ridiculous" wondering what happened. I must say I agree. We hear the tech guy in the court is asking if he can hear them, he cannot. If the court needs some tech assistance next time, I'll be happy to help.
#AssangeCase

We can hear him, we can hear them, but they cannot hear each other.
#AssangeCase

I formally offer my assistance to the court on technical matters! I can provide them with a secure video link that works all the way through with HD video and flawless audio. Please reach out if you would like something that actually works.
#AssangeCase

The technician has asked Fedstein to put himself on mute. At some point he used a word that I would consider it is not said very often in court.

We have now lost audiovisuals.

The tech guy has appeared. There is a foreign language playing. He says that the court is adjourned. He looks like he's working from his living room.
#AssangeCase

End of day statement by @khrafnsson on the #AssangeCase hearing: "This is not justice, not justice at all!"

#FreeAssange #SaveJulianAssange

Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.

A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.

Keep scrolling