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Julian Assange faces up to 12 months in UK jail as judge finds him guilty of skipping bail...
• https://www.dailymail.co.ukJulian Assange is facing up to 12 months in a British prison after he was found guilty of skipping bail to avoid being extradited to Sweden in 2012 to face allegations of rape and sexual assault.
The Wikileaks founder finally appeared in court today after he was sensationally expelled from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been claiming political refuge for the past seven years.
A judge branded Assange's defence 'laughable' and his behaviour that of a 'narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interests' after he pleaded not guilty to beaching his bail conditons, claiming he did so because he could never expect a fair trial in the UK.
Ecuador's decision to revoke his political asylum this morning saw a diplomatic falling of dominoes, with British police then dragging him away in handcuffs to face charges relating to the bail conditions he defied in 2012.
In a sensational turn of events, he was then also charged by the US government with conspiring with American whistleblower Chelsea Manning 'to break a password to a classified government computer' in 2010.
According to documents unsealed today, the charge relates to Assange's alleged role in 'one of the largest compromises of classified information in US history' and he faces a maximum jail term of five years.
While he awaits sentencing for defying his bail conditions, Assange, 47, also faces a court hearing on May 2 relating to his possible extradition to the US to contest the computer hacking charges.
Assange's lawyer Jennifer Robinson confirmed the Wikileaks founder will fight extradition, adding that he thanked supporters and said 'I told you so' when she visited him in his police cell.
Earlier today, Assange, sporting a scruffy beard and unkempt hair, was hauled out of the embassy by a group of seven men following a stunning three-way attack by Britain, the US and Ecuador.
The court heard how Assange resisted arrest and tried to barge past officers in an attempt to return to his private room within the embassy when they introduced themselves at about 10am, telling them: 'This is unlawful.'
Ecuadorian president Lenin Moreno dramatically withdraw Assange's asylum status this morning, blaming his 'discourteous and aggressive behaviour' in continuing to work with Wikileaks while housed at the embassy.
In a scathing statement, president Moreno accused Assange of violating the terms of his asylum by 'interfering in internal affairs of other states' as well as 'blocking security cameras' and 'mistreating guards'.
The arrest came just 24 hours after Wikileaks had accused Ecuador of an 'extensive spying operation', adding that it assumed intel had been handed over to the administration of US President Donald Trump.
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Julian Assange gestures to the media from a police vehicle on his arrival at Westminster Magistrates' Court today
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A handcuffed Assange is pictured in a van with police officers as he makes his way to Westminster Magistrates Court in London ahead of his hearing
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The court heard how Assange resisted arrest and tried to barge past officers in an attempt to return to his private room within the embassy when they introduced themselves at about 10am, telling them: 'This is unlawful'
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The US Department of Justice, releasing this indictment form, said Julian Assange had been arrested over an alleged conspiracy with Chelsea Manning 'to break a password to a classified US government computer'
The US Department of Justice, releasing this indictment form, said Julian Assange had been arrested over an alleged conspiracy with Chelsea Manning 'to break a password to a classified US government computer'
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A judge described Assange's defence that he could never expect a fair trial in the UK as 'laughable', calling his behaviour that of a 'narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interests' as the court heard he tried to fight off arresting officers
1 Comments in Response to Julian Assange faces up to 12 months in UK jail as judge finds him guilty of skipping bail...
They have this bail thing all wrong. Does it say "the man" Julian Assange? If it doesn't, how do you know if it is him or some Julian Assange person that is not him? After all, even if he agreed by signature that the person was his, did he agree that it was him? If he did, it was by "mistake of fact and mistake of law." Where is that bail paperwork person now? Isn't the original still with government, in safe keeping of the courts? So that person never skipped. Prove that it skipped. But if it did, it was not Julian that made it skip. --- All the bail skipping in the free nations has not been done. Why not? Because any of it might say "person." But none of it says "man/woman" or does it? But even if it does, the person on the original paperwork never skipped. But you have to state it in court, that you are not that person.