Assange fights Sweden's extradition
The Age
Tuesday February 8, 2011
JULIAN Assange is wanted in Sweden for prosecution, not just interrogation for alleged rape and failed to respond to interview requests before leaving, a British court has been told.But the defence team, led by Geoffrey Robertson, QC, says that the accusations do not even amount to rape under the law and authorities do not have the right to "slip under bed clothes".He told the court that Mr Assange did make himself available for interview on several occasions and even offered to be interviewed by Skype - an offer refused even though the woman complainant was interviewed by telephone.Clare Montgomery, QC, representing the Swedish authorities, outlined the case for extradition from Britain overnight, rejecting defence arguments that the accusations against Mr Assange do not constitute rape under English law and arguing that the European Arrest Warrant was legal and proper.The WikiLeaks founder arrived in court under guard, and conferred briefly with his team before taking his seat behind glass screen.Ms Montgomery, who took over from a younger, less experienced barrister, made a forceful representation for the prosecution arguing that the EAW system of warrants was created to simplify legal procedures between signatory nations and that the fairness of Sweden's legal system cannot be questioned."Our response to [doubts about the definition of rape] is that the Swedish offence of rape contains the same element through the EU . . . the deliberate violation of a woman's sexual integrity by penetration. That is the core feature‚Swedish offence has that characteristic" she said.The defence team state that Mr Assange cannot be given a fair trial in Sweden because all rape cases are heard in secret.Judge Howard Riddle may give his decision as soon as today.
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