Julian Assange ‘facing life term’ if extradited

Julian Assange faces an effective life sentence under the most ­extreme prison conditions, a key witness has told his extradition hearing.

A supporter of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds a placard calling for his freedom outside Woolwich Crown Court. Picture: AFP

Julian Assange faces an effective life sentence under the most ­extreme prison conditions, a key witness has told his extradition hearing at the Old Bailey in London.

One of Assange’s main witnesses, US lawyer Eric Lewis, said the Australian WikiLeaks founder, now 49, faced “a best-case scenario of 20 years if everything goes brilliantly” and up to to 175 years if it doesn’t.

He noted that Chelsea Manning, the military security analyst who provided Assange with documents and which were then published by WikiLeaks, ­received 35 years in a military court.

Mr Lewis said the US government’s escalation of the indictment from one count to 18, including 17 for spying, was “significant jeopardy for Assange’’.

Hwe said the Department of Justice was being “very aggressive” and “treating this as one of largest espionage cases in US history’’.

He claimed that the decision to charge Assange with 18 counts was an abuse of power and represented a fundamental change ­reflecting President Donald Trump’s view that WikiLeaks was a national security threat and an enemy of the people.

The US prosecution has agreed with Mr Lewis that ­Assange would be held in Alexandria prison in Virginia if he were extradited to the US.

Mr Lewis said Assange would be subject to special administrative measures known as SAMs before and after his US trial.

Julian Assange supporter Nina from Amsterdam wears a mask calling for his freedom outside Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London. Picture: AFP

Inmates under SAMs are held in effective solitary confinement, and permitted to shower and ­exercise for one hour during the night when they are unlikely to encounter other prisoners.

He added that SAMs prisoners had restricted visitation rights, only one 15-minute phone call a month, and no access to news or the internet.

US prosecutor James Lewis said such complaints had been considered and rejected by the European Court of Human Rights, which had also examined the mental health of prisoners held under such conditions.

He said Assange had been ­assessed as suffering Asperger’s and was a serious risk of suicide.

The extradition hearing was restarted on Monday with ­Assange and many court officials now wearing masks — after a coronavirus test of a person associated with the court returned as negative. The trial was halted last Thursday when a partner of one of the US prosecution team exhibited coronavirus symptoms.

Judge Vanessa Baraitser ­addressed the prison staff guarding Assange in the dock and told them he must have the opportunity to wear a mask should he wish. The trial continues.