Its the final week of Julian Assange's extradition trial at the Old Bailey. I am reporting on proceedings through the court video link for @ComputerWeekly. I will report updates here in between taking notes. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Here is a report from yesterday's hearing which covered conditions in US prisions
@ComputerWeekly Witness statements were read out in court. Patrick Cockburn, Middle East Correspondent for the Independent, Stefania Maurizi, Italian investigative reporter, Guy Goodwin-Gill, former legal adviser to the UN High Commission for Refugees, and US lawyer Robert J Boyle. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Also Bridge Prince, director of One World Research.
@ComputerWeekly Evidence read out on spying operation by UC Global in Ecuadorian Embassy for "American Friends" by Witness 1 and Witness 2 #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Witness statement read out from Noam Chomsky. He said that Julian Assange actions are political. In upholding his political belief Julian Assange has performed an enormous service to the world, he said. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly There are four more witnesses due to give evidence. Some may be read out. The court adjourns until 2 pm #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Bridget Prince's witness statement gave evidence about jury selection in Alexandra where Assange would be tried if extradited. The area has a large concentration of government and military organizations, and government contractors among its top employers. #Assange
@ComputerWeekly Court adjourns after hearing statements from Jameel Jaffer executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, that the indictment against Assange poses a threat to journalism in general through the use of the Espionage Act #Assange
@ComputerWeekly A witness statement was read out rom Investigative journalist Andy Worthington on the historic, legal and journalistic importance of Wikileak's publication of the Guantanamo detainee assessments. #Assange
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
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