[ABC -Rachel Brown/wires] Britain’s Supreme Court has ruled that Australian-born WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden to be questioned over sexual assault allegations.
The seven-judge panel ruled five to two that Mr Assange’s extradition appeal be dismissed and he be extradited.
The panel decided Sweden’s prosecutor was a judicial authority and therefore the European arrest warrant issued for Mr Assange was valid.
“The request for Mr Assange’s extradition has been lawfully made and his appeal against extradition is accordingly dismissed,” Supreme Court president Judge Nicholas Phillips said.
Swedish authorities argued before the hearing that if Mr Assange’s appeal was granted, it could throw the fast-tracked European arrest warrant system into turmoil, with implications across the continent.
A Swedish prosecutor wants to question Mr Assange over allegations he sexually assaulted two women in August 2010.
Mr Assange has previously said the sex was consensual, and that the allegations are politically motivated. … more via ABC
… Mr Assange’s defence team has been granted a two-week stay to decide whether to appeal against a particular point of law.
If this is denied, Mr Assange’s last lifeline will be the European Court of Human Rights. …
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