Thread by @jamesdoleman

Proceedings resume at the Julian #Assange extradition hearing in London

James Lewis QC resumes his submissions on behalf of the US government. He is arguing that the assurances given by the US govt (see morning report) can be submitted at any time during proceedings (defence say they were too late)
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Mr #Assange has rejoined the hearing by video link from Belmarsh prison.

Lewis says the assurances given could not have been given before the judge's verdict as his side had already argued there was no need for them and only brought them forward after the judge's initial decision.

On what sentence #Assange might face, Lewis notes that Daniel Hale, convicted of espionage in the States, was only given a 45 month sentence.

Counsel for the US government now challenging the psychiatric opinion of a key defence witness, Professor Kopelman.
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The QC says that Kopelman's diagnosis was based on "self-reporting" by #Assange, says the WikiLeaks founder is an "avid reader of the British Medical Journal."

Lewis says that #Assange met his legal team before he met the psychiatrist.
"We can't read anything into that," the judge responds.

Lewis says Kopelman's report is "misleading," as he fails to mention Assange was in a relationship while in the Equadorian embassy and had fathered two children.
"Saying he had started a family might have put a different context on things," the QC says.

The QC notes that Stella Morris is interviewed in Kopelman's report, but nowhere is it mentioned she is Assange's partner.
Lewis says this part of the report is "actively misleading."

Lewis says on Kopelamn "This was not an honest declaration of truth," and the judge was mistaken to rely on it.
The QC notes the court was only told about the two children during a bail application last year.

"No weight should be given to Professor Kopelman," Lewis says.
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Counsel for the US government now reading from a transcript of his own cross-examination of Professor Kopelman.
You can read a full report on that here.

assangecourt.report/september-22-m…

(I'm not live reporting much of this as private medical information is being discussed)
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Lewis is still reading from his own cross-examination of professor Kopelman...adding the odd comment such as, "he wriggles here."
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Lewis notes that the district judge had said she “preferred,” Professor Kopelman’s evidence but not given any reason why despite his own cross-examination.
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We asked her to give it no weight, and she gave it all the weight, ignoring the other psychiatrists,” Lewis says of the district judge over Kopelman's evidence.
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Lewis, "You can't look to the future to predict suicide."
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Lewis suggests that if Assange is sent to America and convicted he would get "credit," for the time he has spent in an English prison.

Lewis summarises why The appeal should be allowed.
Assurances remove the factors the defence depended on.
It cannot now be said extradition is oppressive
Judge approached Assange’s mental condition on the wrong legal basis
Kopelman’s flawed evidence.

Edward Fitzgerald QC for Mr Assange is now speaking. He says that the District Judge's ruling was correct noting Lewis "is asking for reasons about reasons,"

"A judge can't give a reason why they accept or reject every single piece of expert evidence, it's just not possible."

Defence note original judge had also told the court that she had not been misled, as she had known about the situation and regarded Kopelman’s actions as “A natural human response," to the situation Stella Morris faced.

“We must respect her conclusions,” Fitzgerald adds Saying she heard all of the defence witnesses including those who testified on US prison conditions.

Defence, the prosecution submissions were, “Just an attempt to relitigate the case."
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The QC says many of the issues #Assange was faced with were not a product of Special measures of a Supermax prison but were systemic in the US prison system. Therefore the qualified assurances he would not face a Supermax regime were worthless.

Fitzgerald on Lewis

"It's hard to believe he is reading the same judgment as everyone else.

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Court adjourns for the day, back again tomorrow at 10.30.
Thanks everyone for the likes, retweets, etc,
Full article to follow.
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