Thread by @Consortiumnews

We'll be live-tweeting from the #JulianAssange courtroom again today on this thread.

Starts: 10am BST / 9pm AEST / 5am EST

At 3pm GMT #CNLive! will speak with @johnpilger & @rogerwaters about the outcome.

This👇WILL be the link after the hearing:

We are in the virtual court room. Judge Baraitser has arrived. Awaiting #Assange.

US prosecutor has said it is uncertain whether the US will continue with the extradition effort:

https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/1346544581182164993

Camera is panning around Court 1 at Westminster Magistrates Court. Few people in attendance. #Assange has not yet arrived.

Judge Baraitser has arrived. We are looking at an empty dock. Split screen shows Defence lawyer Mark Summers. Assange enters & identifies himself.

Miss Dobbins will read objections to bail

Ms Dobbins: This case has continued to refuse Mr Assange bail... He has previously gone to great lengths to evade extradition...

We lost the sound.

Back again. The court has discharged JA on the basis of a slim thread. Our High Court appeal may be frustrated if he flees.

Ms Dobbin now talking about the orchestration by Mr #Assange of @Snowden's escape from US justice. Details elaborate plans, distractions. This court should be in no court as to Mr #Assange's resources to arrange flights. He is welcome in Mexico.

Ms Dobbins : Mexico has offered to protect #Assange with political asylum. The defence says #Assange will not flee due to his health, but how can they be sure of his determinations? He has already showed himself to be a flight risk during Swedish proceedings.

Ns Dobbins: Mr Justice Ousley in deciding not to grant bail said Mr #Assange has a propensity not to face trial. He "ruthlessly" breached the trust of those who put up bail money.

Ms Dobbins. It was reported he cost Sweden a lot of money. Mt #Assange regards himself above the law and is likely to abscond.

Ms Dobbin: One of the people who provided purity for bail last time, Baroness Wooster has offered purity again.

Ms Dobbin: He was made a diplomat to assist with freeing him...

Flight risk overrides livelihood. Flight risk has nothing to do with mental health. Services at Belmarsh can look after him. #Covid prisoners have been moved from his block.

Ms Dobbins: Referring to the Turner Report and test to determine if a prisoner is likely to commit suicide. The key determinant, we will argue, is the conditions in place. We will argue the 4th test in Turner, regarding the diagnosis.

Baraitser interrupts, saying too much detail

Ms Dobbins: Mr #Assange mental health is not as severe as the picture the mental health experts painted.

Mr Assange & partner started a family to avoid extradition. They had never lived together.

There exists concrete proof he will abscond.

Edward Fitzgerald for the defence.

Your decision changes everything. It removes motive to abscond. There is confidence in the UK judicial system.

Mr #Assange his been detained for 15 months. You have given a ruling & ordered his discharge. The natural consequence is freedom

Edward Fitzgerald cites US prosecutor who said today that it is unlikely the extradition effort will continue.

Could should weigh into the balance that when the court says "I discharge you", a prisoner should at least enjoy conditional freedom. That's our law, acc to yr ruling.

Fitzgerald: Mr Assange has every reason to obey British law, after the most significant development. You have acknowledged his clinical depression. Due to the #Covid outbreak, #Assange has been severely deprived of contact w/ his family. 90 fellow inmates tested +ve for Covid.

Dobbins said the prosecution received an email from Belmarsh at 20.47 last night. Many self isolating but only 3 tested +ve.

Fitzgerald says 59 tested +ve before Christmas. Maybe 3 in the last 24 hours. But the main thrust of our submission is your assessment & ruling.

We do not accept that the wrong [suicide likelihood] test was applied. We do not think the court was wrong in the case of Lauri Love. We stand by your judgement & ask that you consider the importance of #Assange's family bond for his mental health. He has every incentive to stay.

Baroness Tracy Wooster makes the point in providing surety again that the situation his completely changed from 8 years ago, both in the nature of the request and the court's ruling. The psychiatrists say that family contact is essential to maintain his mental health.

There are humane reasons for accepting bail. Human rights must compel those other reasons. #Assange's Article 8 rights. Mr #Assange served his time for bail violation. The court must consider the proportionality of further detainment, given its concerns for Mr Assange's health

The Mexican offer was to come into effect after conclusion of these proceedings. Any suggestion that this could be associated with absconding is ill-founded. He would only be safe in this jurisdiction after a positive result. Mexico offers another in the future.

10 mins break

EF: Mr #Assange's experience in the Ecuadorian embassy for 7 years of confinement is not something he is EVER likely to repeat.

Re the situation in Belmarsh. Jan 1st: social visits are & will remain suspended. Mr #Assange would remain in lockdown, w/ no visitors & Covid risk

Mr Assange has seen a suicide on his block. He is surrounded by dangerous criminals. His case is so far away from that....

Baraitser: The history of this case is well-known... Assange skipped bail & remained in the Ecuadorian Embassy to avoid extradition to the US.

I ordered his discharge, but there has been an appeal. Mr #Assange still has an incentive to abscond.

The US must be allowed their opportunity to appeal. Mr Assange is being looked after by Belmarsh, which is nothing like what he would endure in the US.

I am satisfied that he could abscond. I deny bail.

Judge Baraitser said that #Assange's case was not yet won. The appeal must be lodged by the US by Jan 18. If it is lodged, the High Court case is likely to be in April. Julian Assange will remain in custody.