14-12-2010, 12:41 AM
Assange's lawyers are saying he has been treated unfairly because the same judge that denied him bail did give bail to a British man wanted for extradition on much more serious offense of conspiracy to murder. They are tossing up whether to bring in his Swedish lawyer to address the extradition hearing.
Quote:Julian Assange's team is planning to fly in Swedish lawyer
- By Peter Wilson
- From: The Australian
- December 14, 2010 12:51AM
JULIAN Assange's legal team is considering flying his Swedish lawyer to London in an unusual bid to convince a British extradition hearing early tomorrow (AEDT) that the sex allegations against him in Sweden are flimsy.
The Swedish lawyer, Bjorn Hurtig, says he has police documents from Stockholm that show there is little substance to the claims the internet activist has committed four sexual offences against two women in the country.
The tactic of flying in a foreign lawyer to discuss the Swedish case came amid complaints by Mr Assange's advisers that he had been treated unfairly because the judge who denied him bail last week granted bail the next day to a British man facing extradition on the much more serious charge of conspiracy to murder.
Evidence about foreign cases such as the Swedish sex allegations is not usually heard in extradition hearings based on European arrest warrants, such as the one that led to Mr Assange's arrest in London last week.
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But Mr Hurtig claims that the two women's police interviews in Stockholm show they were motivated by jealousy and disappointment after they compared notes and discovered they had each had sex with the 39-year-old Australian more than once within the same four-day period.
Such evidence would be unlikely to stop Mr Assange being extradited from Britain to face trial in Sweden, but it could increase his chances of being released on bail while contesting the extradition, which could take more than a year if he pursues various avenues of appeal.
With Mr Assange's WikiLeaks website still busy publishing leaked US diplomatic cables, the website team is desperate to win his freedom so he can help to continue the publications and respond to criticism from the US government and many of its allies around the world, including Julia Gillard.
Lawyer Jennifer Robinson told The Australian yesterday the Assange legal team was weighing up whether it should produce Mr Hurtig and his evidence when a British judge holds an extradition hearing at 1am (AEDT) tomorrow.
Read more about Assange team prepares to fly in Swedish lawyer at The Australian.
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it." Karl Marx
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.