.@Consortiumnews has been admitted to the Old Bailey video link. Waiting now to go in to the courtroom.
Defence has asked for 30 mins to speak with their client Mr #Assange.
Judge Baraitser and the defence team have entered the court. We see Edward Fitzgerald. We have begun.
Mark Summers speaking. Camera has swung around to show #JulianAssange. Mr Stafford-Smith has been called to the witness box - a lawyer dealing with renditions. Has had a lot of dealings w/ @wikileaks. Asked to talk about his use of WL cables re drone killings in Pakistan
Stafford-Smith, a US citizen, is speaking about the targeting of journalists for assassination. Summers moves him on to Guantanamo. Prisoners there were no risk to US. Got there by being exchanged for bounties. Don't even know what they're charged with.
Lewis says the only cables for which #Assange is charged (for publishing) are those where people's names were revealed, ie informants. #Assange has started talking. Baraitser trying to quieten him. Taking 10 mins break
Court back in session. Baraitser has warned #Assange not to interrupt witnesses again. Stafford-Smith talking about over-classification of information in the US. Says this has been the most harmful - where we DON'T reveal evidence of torture.
Stafford-Smith was asked by prosecutor James Lewis if he agreed w/ #Assange's view of revealing informants' names or David Leigh's. Ironic, since Leigh & Luke Harding published the password to the entire trove of unreacted cables.
*unredacted cables
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We'll be live on this thread at 10.30am BST from the #Assange courtroom in London, where judges will announce whether he may appeal on any or all of 3 grounds:
- risk of death penalty
- prejudice by way of his nationality
- risk of no First Amendment protection
Or, extradition!
We are now connected to the Royal Courts of Justice. The courtroom is filling up. Journalists were instructed to sign in 30 minutes before proceedings began. The #Assange Hearing starts in 24 minutes.
We await the arrival of Dame Victoria Sharp and Justice Jeremy Johnson, the two judges who heard #Assange's Renewal Appeal. Their decision was deferred, because they offered the U.S. a chance to offer assurances on 3 points that could block extradition. The US responded.
We're heading off to the Supreme Court in Canberra for the sentencing decision on military whistleblower David McBride @MurdochCadell. Updates will be on this thread.
We're inside the courtroom, awaiting Judge Mossop. David McBride @MurdochCadell is close by with his dog Jake. David's eyes are closed, as they were last week.
Judge enters. Someone cries out "Shame on the court!". The judge tells her to please sit down & be quiet,
Begins reading a statement of facts, beginning with McBride's guilty plea.
- Stealing documents which carries a max penalty of 10 years
- Communicating information to Chris Master & Dan Oakes. Max penalty - fine or prison for "any amount or time" - but could be 6 months prison
- Publishing documents on 'The Ops Room'. Fine or prison for any term, as originally specified in the Defence Act - gives history of the Act
We are standing outside courtroom 7 of the Canberra Supreme Court with @MurdochCadell & his defence. Another case is still being
Heard
Before the sentencing of David McBride we will hear submissions from the prosecution first, led by Trish McDonald, and then from the defence, led by Mark Odgers. The courtroom door has not yet opened.
We are now in the courtroom for the sentencing of David McBride @MurdochCadell, and currently awaiting the arrival of Judge David Mossop. David is accompanied by his dog Jake.
Our live updates from the #Assange courtroom at the Royal Courts of Justice, Day 2 afternoon session, will be on this thread.
Court in session. Now we can hear the prosecution but not the judges.
Prosecution is refuting Ground 4 and Ground 6 of the defence's appeal. Focusing on the Fair Trial issue.
There is an argument of Speciality or nothing. The claim is the applicant is at risk of being punished for conduct he has not been charged with. That is Specialty and it is being forced into Art. 6
Our live updates from the #Assange courtroom on Day 2, morning session, will be on this thread.
@unjoe @CathyVoganSPK We are connected to the #Assange courtroom for Day 2 of his Renewal Appeal. Today we will hear from the prosecution and we have view on Clare Dobbin KC preparing her papers. No sound from the courtroom as yet
@unjoe @CathyVoganSPK Court in session. No sign of #Assange.
Our live updates from the #Assange Renewal Appeal courtroom - Day 1 afternoon session - will be on this thread.
@unjoe @CathyVoganSPK Court in session again.
@unjoe @CathyVoganSPK Mark Summers speaking again for the defense.
Continuing with prior cases in the US relating to this case. Prior publishers of many source names only had passport confiscated. Daniel Ellsberg, a state employee, was not prosecuted.