Thread by @jamesdoleman

Afternoon proceedings begin at the Julian #Assange hearing in London.

Prosecution calls Seena Fazel
Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Oxford.
#Assange

Fazel focuses on the relationship between mental illness and violent crime, the mental health of prisoners, and violence risk assessment. He is also a specialist in prison suicide.

Fazel says his diagnosis is that #Assange is "moderately depressed."

Confirms that his report concludes Mr Assange’s mental condition is not particularly severe.

Edward Fitzgerald QC rises to cross-examine the witness (as before I won't be posting any evidence that deals with private medical information)

The defence QC notes that the witness did not see Mr Assange in the period when other experts have stated his mental health was worse" but after he came out of isolation "it can go up and down?" Fazel agrees.

The witness confirms that isolation and solitary confinement is a "risk factor," in mental health, as is a long sentence.
#Assange

Fitzgerald moves on to Special Administrative Measures (used in US prisons for prisoners they see as high risk)
If this occurred, he would be isolated from other prisoners, limited contact with the outside work
1

Asked if this could make Assange's mental health worse, he replies "yes," but adds he would need to know more about the specific situations but agrees there was a "risk."

Fitzgerald asks about Assange in an American jail, "He's alone he has limited contact with the outside world, his telephone calls are monitored, he has bleak prospects do you would agree their would be a heightened risk?"
Fazel agrees.

Adds that mental health is "multi-factorial," and it would also depend on what treatments were available.
Fitzgerald suggests that if Assange is seen as a security risk he would not have access to any therapeutic programmes in a US prison.
The witness says he can't comment

Fazel says he is "not an expert in US prisons."

The witness says he can't comment as he is “not an expert on US prisons,” and is “only superficially familiar with the literature,"
You are not able to assist us much on this issue are you, defence counsel comments.

Fazel agrees his report says that #Assange has some "autistic type traits."

Fazel agrees he not an expert in autism and that Quinton Deeley (who the court heard from this morning for the defence) is.

Asked about the case of Gary Mckinnon, who the UK court's refused to extradite to the USA partly because he was autistic, Fazel says yes, but adds "he is not an expert."

The defence suggests that Fazel does not have the knowledge to contradict the evidence we heard this morning that Assange had Aspergers Syndrome as he was not an expert in that field

"I'd like to focus on what I said," he replies.

Witness says he visited two US prisons not a “supermax,” jail of the type Assange is likely to be placed in.
“You're not able to assist us that area then,” Fitzgerald says, and ends his cross-examination.
#Assange

James Lewis rises for the US government, says that Assange would, before trial, be held on remand in a Virgina prison which he said, "did not have solitary confinement."

Lewis says if Assange was convicted he would be sent to NDX SAMS Colorado SuperMax prison, says every inmate has access to a small television showing educational and informative programes selected by the staff.

He also describes other benefits of the Supermax jail, including arts and crafts, and access to videogames
"He also says that there are also educational courses prisoners can take such as "7 habits of highly effective people." and "Channelling the artistic spirit."
#Assange

The witness says that sounded good but he would have to see how it worked in practice.

Witness finishes his evidence, and leaves the court, court adjourns for 10 minutes.