AFP - Lawyers for Julian Assange Monday challenged the legality of the extradition proceedings initiated by Sweden against him for sexual violence and fears "a miscarriage of justice" during the 5th and most important founder of Wikileaks's appearance before the British justice.
Defenders of the Australian 39 years were immediately occupied the land, by posting the outset of the hearing all their arguments, an exceptional gesture intended to "fundamentally calling into question the validity of the mandate European arrest.
Assange has always fiercely denied accusations of sexual abuse made against him by two young Swedes.And his supporters believe he is the victim of a conspiracy related to the disclosure by Wikileaks thousands of official documents that have embarrassed many governments.
On the eve of his trial, a police report was leaked on the internet: one of his accusers told in detail how he imposed an unprotected sex while sleeping.
During the first day devoted to the defense arguments before the hearing on Tuesday from witnesses, lawyers Assange opened a first edge by challenging the charge of rape, the definition is much broader in Sweden.
"What is considered rape in Sweden is not in other countries," argues Mr. Robertson also noted that a rape trial in Sweden "would be held in camera" as usual in this countries, which would constitute "a flagrant denial of justice."
The founder of Wikileaks lawyers also argue that the warrant is not admissible to the extent that the Australian was not charged. And that the prosecutor in charge of the case had no authority to issue it.
Another argument: the "real risk" that once extradited to Sweden, founder of Wikileaks is sent to the United States and, they say, interned at Guantanamo Bay, or even sentenced to death.In violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
United States, where Assange fugure made for some politicians to public enemy number one organized by leaks from his site, Justice opened an investigation against him, but she has not charged and did not ask her extradition.
The hearing, which is attended by a hundred journalists allowed to cover the proceedings via twitter, should last 48 hours.In such cases, the judge's decision is usually taken under advisement.
If the green light to extradition, Australia has many opportunities for appeal and the procedure could take several months to the end.
While the defense fought tooth and nail in court, several personalities, including British Jemima Khan, fashion muse and ambassador for Unicef, had planned to attend a demonstration outside support to the founder of Wikileaks.
Julian Assange, who now lives under house arrest in the English countryside, arrived 45 minutes before the start of the hearing at Belmarsh court, in the east of the city, flanked by his lawyers.
Wearing a gray hooded duffle coat, very talkative in the Australian media since his arrest on December 7 in London, was this time remained silent, merely a hello from the hand towards the international press came to number to cover this new episode of a legal saga that promises to be long.
