Julian Assange freedom hopes dashed as court rules Wikileaks founder’s arrest warrant is still valid
JULIAN Assange's hopes of walking out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London were once again dashed today after a court insisted his UK arrest warrant is still valid.
The WikiLeaks founder claimed political asylum in July 2012 after facing rape allegations.
A Swedish rape probe against him was dropped last year, but Assange fears arrest for jumping bail - and extradition to the US - if he steps outside of the building.
The 46-year-old hoped he would be able to walk out of the Knightsbridge embassy today if he had convinced Westminster Magistrates Court to quash his arrest warrant.
But when the court refused to lift the warrant, Julian tweeted: "Wall to wall fake news stating stating the government won today's hearing. Nothing of the sort has happened.
"The hearing is still happening. Only one point has been ruled on."
His lawyer Mark Summers told a London court last week that the warrant had "lost its purpose and its function".
He said Assange had been living in conditions "akin to imprisonment" and his "psychological health" has deteriorated and was "in serious peril".
If Assange's warrant had been withdrawn he would have left - with up to £18million stashed in bitcoin accounts after investing in 2010, according to reports.
But prosecutor Aaron Watkins called Assange's court bid "absurd".
He added: "The proper approach is that when a discrete, standalone offence of failing to surrender occurs, it always remains open to this court to secure the arrest."
The court heard that the 46-year-old was suffering from a bad tooth, a frozen shoulder and depression because of his long stay in the embassy.
Sweden dropped its investigation last year, but British police are still seeking to arrest Assange for failing to surrender to a court after violating bail terms during his unsuccessful battle against extradition.
Assange has refused to leave the embassy, claiming he fears being extradited to the United States over WikiLeaks' publication of secret US military documents and diplomatic cables in 2010.
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions last year said his arrest was a "priority".
Assange only very rarely emerges on the balcony of the embassy building, citing concerns for his personal safety, but frequently takes part in media conferences and campaigns via video link.
He is frequently visited by friend Pamela Anderon at the Ecuadorean embassy .
The ex-Baywatch star, 50, recently shot down rumours that she was romantically involved with Assange.