Assange loses extradition fight - Dan Hyde of Cubism Law comments

Published on 31 May 2012 under category: cubism

By John Aston and Brian Farmer, Press Association, 30th May 2012.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange today lost his Supreme Court fight against extradition to Sweden to face sex crime allegations.

Lawyers for Assange asked the UK's highest court to block his removal, arguing that the European arrest warrant issued against him was "invalid and unenforceable".

The Supreme Court judges, who heard the case in February, today announced that they have rejected his challenge.

The court dismissed Assange's appeal by a majority of five to two.

Lord Phillips, president of the Supreme Court, when announcing the decision, said the point of law which had to be considered had not been simple to resolve.

The Swedish authorities want Assange, 40, to answer accusations of raping one woman and sexually molesting and coercing another in Stockholm in August 2010 while on a visit to give a lecture.

Assange, whose WikiLeaks website has published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables that embarrassed several governments and international businesses, says the sex was consensual and the allegations against him are politically motivated.

In November 2011, the High Court upheld a ruling by District Judge Howard Riddle - who sat at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court, south London, in February 2011 - that the Australian computer expert should be extradited to face investigation.

The High Court declared that it would not be unfair or unlawful to extradite Assange.

Assange’s alleged crimes took place in August 2010 in Stockholm and Enkoeping, Sweden, where he was lecturing on the publication of the US documents. Invited to stay with the women in their apartments as he toured the cities, Assange claims the sex was consensual.

Cubism Law Extradition Lawyer, Dan Hyde commented:

"Having marginally lost his Supreme Court appeal on the interpretation of a Judicial Authority for extradition purposes, Julian Assange has now to decide whether to roll the dice one last time and appeal to the ECHR that this extradition would breach his right to a fair trial under Article 6. That gamble would have poor odds as the ECHR may not accept his case and to succeed he would have to show his right would be flagrantly breached if he is tried in Sweden. Given that he may still roll the dice."

You can read more about Dan and our Fraud & Extradition services here.