Julian Assange lawyer claims there were plans to ‘kidnap and harm’ Wikileaks founder as he fights US extradition
JULIAN Assange's lawyer has today said there were "plans to kidnap and harm" the WikiLeaks founder while he was holed up inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
Assange, 48, who spent nearly seven years inside Ecuador's embassy, is wanted in the US over leaks of classified military documents.
Dressed in a navy suit and light blue jumper, he raised his first to supporters in the public gallery - which included former London Mayor Ken Livingstone - at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.
He was cleanly shaven in contrast to the long beard he had grown while in Ecuador's embassy.
He mumbled, paused and stuttered as he gave his name and date of birth at the start of the case management hearing.
The 48-year-old faces 18 counts in the US, including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law.
He could spend decades in prison if convicted.
His lawyer, Mark Summers, today accused the US of "intruding" on conversations between Assange and his lawyers while he was in Ecuador's embassy.
He said: "The American state has been actively engaged in intruding into privileged discussions between Mr Assange and his lawyers in the embassy, also unlawful copying of their telephones and computers (and) hooded men breaking into offices."
He told the court there were also "plans to kidnap and harm" Assange.
However he did not provide further evidence to support the claims.
District Judge Venessa Baraitser refused to grant defence lawyers more time to gather evidence and told Assange his next case management hearing will take place on December 19 before a full extradition hearing in February.
When his case was adjourned, Assange complained that he had not understood proceedings, and said: "This is not equitable."
He said: "I can't research anything, I can't access any of my writing. It's very difficult where I am."
He told the judge he is up against a "superpower" with "unlimited resources" and appeared to be fighting back tears as he added: "I can't think properly."
Former home secretary Sajid Javid signed an order in June allowing Assange to be extradited to the US over the computer-hacking allegations.
WIKI HEARING
He was jailed for 50 weeks in the UK in May after he jumped bail by going into hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy.
His stay is thought to have cost the UK £16million in policing and other expenses.
The WikiLeaks founder was due to be released from HMP Belmarsh on September 22, but was told at a court hearing last month that he would be kept in jail because of "substantial grounds" for believing he would abscond.
In May, WikiLeaks said it had "grave concerns" about Assange's health after he was moved to a medical ward in Belmarsh Prison.
When he did not appear for a scheduled hearing, chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot referred to the Australian as "not very well".
WikiLeaks said at the time: "During the seven weeks in Belmarsh his health has continued to deteriorate and he has dramatically lost weight.
"The decision of the prison authorities to move him into the health ward speaks for itself."
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If the case goes to a series of appeals, Assange could remain in a UK jail until at least 2025.
It is estimated jail and court costs would run to nearly £600,000 over that time.
Assange entered the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he was wanted in connection with sexual offence allegations.
He spent nearly seven years living inside until he was dramatically dragged out by police in April after Ecuador revoked his political asylum.
