Initial article @The Guardian:
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[b]Founder of WikiLeaks granted bail at Westminster magistrates court after celebrities stood sureties[/b]
A British court today granted bail with strict conditions to Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks website, who faces allegations of rape in Sweden.
Assange's lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson, asked the city of Westminster magistrates court for bail on the following conditions: £200,000 in security, surety from two people, a curfew, daily reporting to police and surrender of his passport. The judge granted the conditions.
The judge gave lawyers representing Sweden two hours to lodge an appeal. Even if an appeal is not lodged, it is likely that Assange will remain in custody tonight anyway.
A full extradition hearing is scheduled for January 11.
"We doubt whether this actual category of rape would be rape under English law," said Robertson, a former appeals judge at the UN special court for Sierra Leone, and whose former clients include author Salman Rushdie.
Appearing for the Swedish authorities, Gemma Lindfield, argued that Assange should not be given bail as the charges were serious and there was a real possibility of Assange taking flight. "This is not a case about WikiLeaks, rather a case about alleged serious offenses against two women," she said. Unlike Robertson, she said the allegations were serious and Assange had only weak ties to Britain and "the means and ability to abscond".
Assange entered court one at 2.12pm, looking more ashen than last week, wearing a dark jacket and open white shirt. With so much press interest, people were given permission to stand; in a break with tradition, journalists were allowed to tweet the proceedings.
Amid chaotic scenes, Robertson, who cut short a holiday in Australia to be in court, had to bang the door to get in.
...
He was denied bail by district judge Howard Riddle at city of Westminster magistrates court last Tuesday, on the grounds that there was a risk he would fail to surrender. The decision to remand him in custody came despite despite the film director Ken Loach, the journalist John Pilger, Jemima Khan, and other suporters offering sureties for him totalling £180,000.
His legal team has claimed Swedish prosecutors were put under political pressure to restart their inquiry to help silence and discredit Assange, whose website has provoked US anger by publishing some of a trove of 250,000 classified US diplomatic papers.
Assange's lawyer Mark Stephens visited him in Wandsworth prison yesterday afternoon, and said his client was being held under harsher conditions than last week. He claimed Assange was being confined to his cell for all but half an hour a day, and denied association with others prisoners, access to the library or TV.
Stephens also claimed a number of letters to Assange from media organisations have not reached him. He said Assange was under 24-hour video surveillance and had complained that a tooth which broke off while he was eating had later been stolen from his cell.
...
The allegations about Assange were made by two women. The first complainant, known as Miss A, said she was the victim of "unlawful coercion" on the night of 14 August in 2009 in Stockholm. The court heard Assange was alleged to have "forcefully" held her arms and used his body weight to hold her down.
The second charge alleged he had "sexually molested" her by having sex without using a condom. A third charge claimed Assange "deliberately molested" Miss A on 18 August.
A fourth charge, relating to a woman called Miss W, alleges that on 17 August, Assange "improperly exploited" a situation where she was asleep, to have sex with her without using a condom.
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Updated article @[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/14/julian-assange-wikileaks]The Guardian:[/url]
[release]
[b]The WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, is to remain in jail after the Swedish authorities decided to challenge a decision by a British court to grant him bail on allegations of rape in Stockholm.[/b]
A judge in London granted Assange £240,000 bail with strict conditions, including a curfew and the surrendering of his passport.
But when counsel for the prosecution indicated it would appeal, the judge told Assange he would remain in jail until a hearing at a higher court within 48 hours.
Assange's lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson, had asked the City of Westminster magistrates court in London for bail on five conditions: £200,000 in security, surety of £40,000 from two people, a curfew, daily reporting to police, and surrender of his passport. The judge agreed, to much rejoicing among Assange's supporters.
But elation turned to anger as lawyers representing Sweden challenged the decision.
Speaking outside the court, Mark Stephens, one of Assange's lawyers, said: "The prosecution is doing no more than taking instructions from Sweden.
"They are continuing to persecute Mr Assange ... An innocent man is in custody."
The decision followed two hours of confusion as Stephens first said he understood that the prosecution would decline to challenge the court's decision.
Sweden's decision means that the next legal arguments will be heard at the court of appeal. No time has yet been fixed.
...
Appearing for the Swedish authorities, Gemma Lindfield argued that Assange should be declined bail as the charges were serious and there was a real possibility he would leave the country.
"This is not a case about WikiLeaks, rather a case about alleged serious offences against two women," she said.
She said the allegations were serious and Assange had only weak ties to Britain and "the means and ability to abscond".
The judge rejected her arguments and agreed that Assange would stay at Ellingham Hall in Suffolk, an estate owned by Vaughan Smith, founder of the Frontline club in London, who is one of the people offering security. Assange will have to report daily to a nearby police station at Bungay.
The initial decision was greeted by cheers outside the courtroom, and Assange's supporters welcomed the move.
"I'm very pleased that he is out," said the writer and political activist Tariq Ali. "I think the extradition charges should now be dealt with in the same way. His barrister made the same point, that this is not rape under English law and there is absolutely no reason for extradition. We are delighted he is out and he should never have been locked up in the first place."
Even if the Swedish challenge fails, it could be a week before Assange is released. Mark Stephens, another of Assange's lawyers, said it would take some time to raise the bail money.
Accusing the Swedish authorities of mounting a "persecution not a prosecution", Stephens said Assange would have to stay behind bars until the £200,000 is raised in cash and delivered to the court, as it did not accept cheques.
Speaking to reporters after the court hearings, Stephens said: "There is enormous relief tinged with enormous sadness. Assange will spend another night in solitary confinement. It's a pretty unpleasant situation he's going through."
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/14/julian-assange-wikileaks]Full article.[/url]
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Live updates @[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2010/dec/14/wikileaks-julian-assange-court-appeal-live-updates]The Guardian:[/url]
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[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2010/dec/14/wikileaks-julian-assange-court-appeal-live-updates][b]The Guardian Live Updates:[/b][/url]
[b]5.44pm: Just to recap, Assange will remain in prison, at least until the appeal is heard.[/b] That seems to be the end of the excitement and confusion – for today at least.
[b]5.36pm:[/b] Speaking again outside the court, Stephens says the Swedes will not abide by the umpire's decision. "They [the Swedish authorities] clearly will not spare any expense to keep Mr Assange in jail," he added.
"This is really turning in to a show trial. We will be in court in the next 48 hours, they haven't given us the courtesy to say when. It is an unfortunate state of affairs ... but given their history of persecuting of Mr Assange, it is perhaps not surprising."
Asked how Assange had taken the decision, Stephens said he was phlegmatic.
[b]5.29pm:[/b] "I understand," Assange said, Sam Jones has tweeted.
[b]5.28pm:[/b] The appeal will take place at the high court, BBC news reports.
[b]5.26pm: Forget the last half an hour – the decision will be challenged by the Swedish authorities. There's going to be an appeal within 48 hours[/b], Sam reports.
[b]5.20pm:[/b] Confusion reigns outside the court. We had heard, via reporters briefed by Assange's lawyers, that the Swedish authorities would not appeal – but that is yet to be confirmed. "There's been confusion in the passing of messages to me," Stephens said.
...
[b]3.46pm:[/b] More on the bail conditions.
• Surety of £240,000
• Curfew from 10am-2pm and 10pm-2am
• Assange must report to the police station every day at 6pm
[b]3.36pm: Hang on. Swedish prosecutors plan to launch an appeal against the decision to grant Assange bail. They have two hours to do lodge an appeal. Assange will not be freed until that process is over.[/b]
[b]3.34pm:[/b] Assange's bail conditions include surrendering his passport, a curfew, and an electronic tag.
[b]3.31pm:[/b] Assange's next court appearance will be January 11 2011. (Sorry about the technical problems in the last few minutes).
[b]3.25pm: Assange has been granted bail[/b], to cheers from inside and outside the court.
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More articles:
[url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/14/world/main7148650.shtml?tag=stack]CBS News[/url]
[url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11989216]BBC News[/url]
[url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/12/14/uk.assange.hearing/index.html?hpt=T1]CNN[/url]
List of news articles @[url=http://news.google.co.uk/news/more?hl=en&q=julian+assange&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ncl=dsWblP9PX0VdW2MRpmY9TodyvguiM&ei=5MQHTb6QC-iqhAevr8XZBA&sa=X&oi=news_result&ct=more-results&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQqgIwAA]Google News Search[/url]
He shouldn't have been arrested to begin with.
Fuck yeah.
Two live streams at the back of the court, waiting for him to come out:
[url]http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/1221258968/ID=1565830896[/url]
[url]http://www.livestation.com/channels/10-bbc-world-news-english[/url]
Leg it!
Wasn't it like 200000$?
Nice to hear.
[quote=Heather Brooke]
Bail is granted to #assange. With conditions. He's out. Next hearing jan 11th.
As a condition of bail #assange has to wear electronic tag. how about a hack into foursquare?
Those #assange bail conditions:200k surety required, surrender passport, stay at manor house, curfew from 10am-2pm and 10pm-2am
#assange can't apply for travel docs and must report to local police station every day at 6pm. Prosecutor has 2hrs to appeal.[/quote]
[quote=Alexi Mostrous]
Complex decision. Assange given bail on conditions but prosecutors have 2hrs to appeal and £200k security has to be sent to court.#wikileaks
Assange lawyer told me he probably won't be released tonight #wikileaks[/quote]
[editline]14th December 2010[/editline]
[quote=Heather Brooke]Geoffrey Robertson qc: "it's not so much a house arrest as a manor arrest." #assange house 10 bedrooms surrounded by 600 acres in Suffolk.
1 minute ago via twidroid[/quote]
[editline]14th December 2010[/editline]
[quote=BBC reporter]This is the beginning of a very long legal process probably lasting up to a year.[/quote]
Um, what?
[quote]
• Surety of £240,000
• Curfew from 10am-2pm and 10pm-2am
• Assange must report to the police station every day at 6pm
[B]3.36pm: Hang on. Swedish prosecutors plan to launch an appeal against the decision to grant Assange bail. They have two hours to do lodge an appeal. Assange will not be freed until that process is over.[/B]
[B]3.34pm:[/B] Assange's bail conditions include surrendering his passport, a curfew, and an electronic tag.[/quote]
Considering he voluntary surrendered himself, and will be under those tight restrictions, I see no reason for Sweden to appeal his bail.
He's going to escape to Iceland.
This was part of his plan all along.
[QUOTE=Coffee;26689597]He's going to escape to Iceland.
This was part of his plan all along.[/QUOTE]
Yeah except the tag will set off alarms as soon as it moves past its boundaries and will be constantly tracked.
[QUOTE=Khaos-23;26689468]Two live streams at the back of the court, waiting for him to come out:
[url]http://www.livestation.com/channels/10-bbc-world-news-english[/url][/QUOTE]
Apparently I can't watch the BBC news because I live in the UK...
Here's for the Britons: [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10318089[/url]
[QUOTE=Fourm Shark;26689631]Please don't come to America. For your sake.[/QUOTE]Im pretty sure he's smart enough not to even go near American soil.
I bet the government will kill him preety soon, and say it was an accident and they had nothing to do with it
[QUOTE=Laserbeams;26689819]I bet the government will kill him preety soon, and say it was an accident and they had nothing to do with it[/QUOTE]
Way too obvious it was a government if he dies now.
Aw, I was hoping we'd get the "Doomsday File" unlocked.
:byodood:
My stepdad was PISSED to hear this news.
"Your generation is so fucked up it's unbelievable. To let that TERRORIST out of jail WITHOUT the death penalty is just retarded"
Ah, oh well. I'll give him 5 minutes and he'll find something else he hates.
[editline]14th December 2010[/editline]
Good on you, Assange.
[QUOTE=The_Marine;26689844]Aw, I was hoping we'd get the "Doomsday File" unlocked.
:byodood:[/QUOTE]
"i was hoping for an event that could trigger a nuclear war"
[editline]14th December 2010[/editline]
"in which i would probably die"
[QUOTE=mrryanchisholm;26689858]My stepdad was PISSED to hear this news.
"Your generation is so fucked up it's unbelievable. To let that TERRORIST out of jail WITHOUT the death penalty is just retarded"
Ah, oh well. I'll give him 5 minutes and he'll find something else he hates.
[editline]14th December 2010[/editline]
Good on you, Assange.[/QUOTE]
Your dad's a nutter
[QUOTE=Fourm Shark;26689631]Please don't come to America. For your sake.[/QUOTE]
Im sure assange is thankful for your warning.
Go Assy! :buddy:
Back to the super Headquarters.
Michael Moore posted the 20,000$ bail, and has allowed use of his servers, sites, and domains for Wikileaks.
are you fucking kidding me
[QUOTE=Detective P;26690181]Michael Moore posted the 20,000$ bail, and has allowed use of his servers, sites, and domains for Wikileaks.[/QUOTE]
That's fucking sweet. Now all we need is Alex Jones to join up and we'd have the three musketeers of the government transparency.
[QUOTE=Laserbeams;26689819]I bet the government will kill him preety soon, and say it was an accident and they had nothing to do with it[/QUOTE]
This is all too high-profile right now, won't happen.
What good will a curfew do?
[QUOTE=Lambeth;26689877]Your dad's a nutter[/QUOTE]
Well, he can be like that sometimes.
He dislikes Rock Band because he stereotypes that every time X person beats a song they will literally shout "I'm a guitar hero!"
I just ignore him because there's no point in arguing.
The three musketeers of government transparency , or the three stooges of cyber terrorism.
[b]You decide.[/b] or.. [b]You let the government decide[/b]
[img]http://www.subnews.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/JulianAssange.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/twn_up_fls/michael-moore%20d.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.trendsupdater.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Alex-Jones.jpg[/img]
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