A British pass judgement on has rejected america’ request to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges, saying it would be “oppressive” as a result of his mental health.
District Pass judgement on Vanessa Baraitser said Monday Assange used to be likely to commit suicide whether sent to the USA.
America government said it would appeal the decision.
US prosecutors have indicted Assange on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over WikiLeaks’ journal of leaked military and diplomatic documents a decade ago. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in jail.
Lawyers for the 49-year-old Australian argue that he used to be acting as a journalist and is entitled to First Amendment protections of freedom of speech for publishing leaked documents that exposed US military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The pass judgement on rejected claims by the defense that Assange used to be safe by free-speech guarantees, saying his “conduct, whether proved, would subsequently amount to offenses in this jurisdiction that would not be safe by his correct to freedom of speech.”
But she said Assange suffered from clinical depression that would be exacerbated by the isolation he would likely face in US jail.
The pass judgement on said Assange had the “intellect and determination” to circumvent any suicide prevention measures the authorities could take.
