It is day 12 of Julian Assange's extradition hearing, taking place at the Old Bailey. I am reporting for @ComputerWeekly, through a remote dial-in to the court. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Dr Quinton Deely NHS Consultant Psychiatrist specializing in autism, ADHD and mental health is giving evidence #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Deely is giving evidence that there is a high risk of suicide if #Assange is extradited in the light of his diagnosis.
@ComputerWeekly Lewis, for the prosecution is cross examining Deeley on his diagnosis of autism #Assange
@ComputerWeekly James Lewis is about to play a video of #Assange at the Frontline club which he says is inconsistent with a diagnosis of autism.
@ComputerWeekly Dr Deeley said he did not agree that Assange was not rehearsed. Deeley said it was a highly structured Q&A format. Assange presented an impressive monologue but was not responding to social cues #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Edward Fitzgerald QC or Assange told judge Baraitster that Professor Paul Mullen who was due to give evidence this afternoon is not now available. Mullen was Assange's consulting psychiatrist in Australia. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly The judge said she was very concerned about losing a whole afternoon. She said there are 14 witnesses due to be heard next week. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Lewis asked Deeley about a number of examples were Assange was recorded as maintaining eye contact. Deeley said: "I am not asserting that Mr Assange has a complete absence of non-verbal communication". But he said there was evidence of reduced eye contact. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Deeley had observed Assange for two hours conducting an test for autism. Lewis suggested that "it was just not right" to rely on a two hour test when someone had severe depression. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Deeley said that he was careful not to make the diagnosis solely on the basis of the test in January when Assange was severely depressed. Most people tested for autism have co-existing conditions, that is why the assessment was also weighted with other assessments. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Judge Baraitser said it was her intention to close the case on Friday next week (31 October). Fitzgerald said : "even if we finished all the witnesses - that is a tall ask - we could no have closing submissions. We would be calling witnesses up to until the last day #Assange
1/ One of the world’s most prestigious general science journals, Nature, was the target of a two-year-long sustained and virulent secret attack by a conspiratorial group of extreme Brexit lobbyists with high-level political, commercial and intelligence connections.
2/ The group attempted to have Nature and its staff put under surveillance and investigated by MI5, MI6, the CIA, Mossad, and Japanese and Australian intelligence agencies. They met cabinet minister Michael Gove and asked him to arrange phone taps and electronic surveillance.
3. They called themselves the “Covid Hunters”. Their allegations against science reporting helped fuel an explosion in “lab leak” claims on right-wing conspiracy sites. They pushed their “extraordinary, true story” to a top Hollywood producer in 2020.
Breaking: The high court has granted the US leave to appeal the decision not to extradite #Assange on two further grounds of appeal. This includes challenging the use of evidence from defence expert Professor Matthew Kopelman over Assange's risk of suicide if extradited.
The High Court overturned a decision by Justice Jonathan Swift to reject 2 out 5 grounds of appeal put forward by the US government #Assange
Lord Justice Holroyde and Justice Farbey found the US had an arguable case that Kopelman did not act in accordance with his duty as an expert witness by omitting to disclose #Assange's relationship with his partner Stela Moris and their two children in his first report.
Today the US will begin the process of appealing against the UK court's decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange. The preliminary hearing is due to start at 10:30. I am reporting on the case by remote video link. I will post updates here. #Assange
This story summarises the main issues that are expected to be raised today.
The US is arguing for permission to challenge the evidence of medical expert, Michael Kopelman, head of neurospychiatry at King's College London in the Court of Appeal. Kopelman found that Assange had autism, recurring depression, and was at high risk of suicide if extradited.
Around 1600 Belgium police raided 200 premises this morning in one of the largest police operations the country has undertaken. Belgian police have refused to confirm or deny whether the raids are linked with the compromise of the secure phone network @SkyECCofficial#Encrochat
The raids took place between 0500 and 11 am this morning. More than 10 people have been arrested. @SkyECCofficial#Encrochat
Belgium police say it will take months to evaluate the information seized during the raids. @SkyECCofficial#Encrochat
Victory for journalists, press freedom after tribunal finds there is no reason to bar people from using the UK's freedom of information act simply because they are not in the UK. @SMaurizi@estelledehon@EmmanFre@benjameslucas
The decision comes after the First-Tier tribunal stayed 16 Freedom of Information by appeals by journalists and ordinary people, because they were either not UK citizens, or had UK nationality but were living abroad. @SMaurizi@estelledehon@EmmanFre@benjameslucas#FOIA
Today's decision means that the Freedom of Information Act will continue to operate as it always has done for the past 15 years. It is open to any person regardless of nationality or place of residence.@SMaurizi@estelledehon@EmmanFre@benjameslucas#FOIA
Good morning. Today a court will decide whether Julian Assange should be released on bail from Belmarsh Prison, following the decision by Westminster Magistrate's court not to extradite him to the US on espionage charges. #Assange#Assangetrail