Julian Assange says prison computer inside HMP Belmarsh not suitable for his defence
Julian Assange has complained about his computer access inside London’s Belmarsh prison, saying he cannot defend himself on charges that carry a 175-year prison term.
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Julian Assange has complained about his computer access inside London’s Belmarsh prison, saying he cannot defend himself on charges that carry a 175-year prison term.
Assange, 48, looked scruffy in a light blue sweat shirt and grey tracksuit pants when he appeared via video link in London’s Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday night.
During the five-minute hearing, attended by supporters including his father, John Shipton, Assange’s remand in HMP Belmarsh was extended.
In contrast to his previous appearance in court, Assange looked tired, was wearing glasses and his hair was messy.
Gareth Peirce, a prominent human rights lawyer, told the court that Assange’s ability to defend himself was compromised.
She said she wanted to “put on record” the challenges Assange was facing in preparing his case.
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He has not had the “ability to access what he needs to work on his case,” Ms Peirce said.
“After months of battle he has a computer,” she added, but it was not sufficient for him to access the material he needed.
“I strongly ask, as this is a public hearing, as a means of exerting pressure,” Ms Peirce said.
However, District Judge Goldspring said that she had no jurisdiction over the jail.
“There’s nothing I can say that will assist you,” she said.
An Assange supporter said outside court that computers inside Belmarsh were kept in large metal boxes, which did not allow inputs and that they were not connected to the internet.
Assange was required by the court to reconfirm his remand, as mandated by law every 28 days.
He has been held in the health ward at Belmarsh prison and is facing a full extradition hearing in February.
The Queensland-born Wikileaks founder is looking at a 175-year prison sentence in the United States if he gets convicted on 17 spying charges and one of computer hacking.
The charges relate to the dumping of hundreds of thousands of classified US government documents.
Lawyers for the United States have argued that the documents were put up including the names of informants who had helped the Americans fight the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, putting their lives at risk.
Assange has claimed that he was being persecuted for his journalism.