Thread by @jamesdoleman

Still awaiting Mr #Assange appearing in the glass fronted dock.

Aasange enters the dock, is wearing a blue suit and tie.
We now await the judge

Judge enters

Judge now giving her decision...

#Assange

She is going through the defence arguments and her conclusion, 1. Says the case is governed by the extradition act 2003 (the defence pointed to the political exception in the treaty) but she rejects this.

Judge says that the alledged offences go beyond "encouraging a journalist," and involved a conspiracy to crack secure passwords.
#Assange

Judge Vanessa Baraitser now going through the allegations against #Assange in relation to former US soldier Chelsea Manning.

Says that #Assange called for people to join the CIA so they could access confidential information, says this was "beyond investigative journalism."

Judge says the right to free speech does not give anyone "unfettered discretion," to disclose any document they wish.

Judge says that the Wikileaks disclosures led to up to 50 people who had assisted the US government to seek asylum in the United States.

Judge Baraitser says she is satisfied that the prosecution of Assange was not a political decision by the Trump administration, says Trump "repeatedly and publically praised him."

Judge says she will not look at allegations of US interference at the US embassy at the Ecuadorian embassy as this case is still ongoing in Spain.
#Assange

Says US intelligence might have had legitimate reasons to monitor #Assange in the embassy as they may have legitimately vonsidred him a threat to National security.

Rejects defence argument about the delay in prosecution saying there was a "great deal of data," for the authorities to look at and there was no evidence the defence was hampered.
#Assange

Says any hurt caused to Assange's family by his extradition "is nothing unusual in these kind of proceedings."

Judge says she does not accept it would be impossible to find 12 impartial jurors in the Virginia justice system, or that the plea bargening system was unjust.
#Assange

Judge, no evidence that #Assange would not get a fair trial in the United States.

A US court will ensure that #Assange will get the legal protections in the constitution judge says.

Judge "This court trusts that a US court wil properly consider Mr Assange's right to free speech."
#Assange

Judge moves on to what she calls "the final defence argument, his health.

Judge accepts Mr Assange suffers from Autism, and clinical depression, and is at risk of self-harm.

(judge going through some private medical information I'm not going to share)
#Assange

Judge says that US prison conditions have been taken into account, as well as te risk of #Assange being put under "special administrative measures."

Says Assange would be in isolation, held "in a cage." in a US prison.
#Assange

Judge says Assange has the intellect and determination to get round suicide prevention measures.

Extradition denied.

#Assange

US have 15 days to appeal.