Feb 27, 2020, 17:21 pm
Throughout the four days of his extradition hearing, Assange visibly struggled to follow proceedings due to poor acoustics in the courtroom and fatigue. His lawyers say he is on medication and mentally vulnerable.
Assange, 48, sat in the dock at the rear of the court behind thick glass, looking only at the backs of the lawyers’ heads. He repeatedly complained he was a mere spectator in his own extradition hearing and unable to easily give instruction to his legal team or speak to them without being overheard. He was given headphones Thursday but said they did not help him hear, and removed them.
On Thursday, his lawyers asked Judge Vanessa Baraitser to allow Assange to sit beside them when the case resumes, as is common in U.S. courtrooms. They said his right to a fair trial was in jeopardy. The judge refused, saying he can request frequent breaks “every hour if need be” to meet his lawyers in private, but he cannot leave the secure dock.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/sto...aring-ends
Assange, 48, sat in the dock at the rear of the court behind thick glass, looking only at the backs of the lawyers’ heads. He repeatedly complained he was a mere spectator in his own extradition hearing and unable to easily give instruction to his legal team or speak to them without being overheard. He was given headphones Thursday but said they did not help him hear, and removed them.
On Thursday, his lawyers asked Judge Vanessa Baraitser to allow Assange to sit beside them when the case resumes, as is common in U.S. courtrooms. They said his right to a fair trial was in jeopardy. The judge refused, saying he can request frequent breaks “every hour if need be” to meet his lawyers in private, but he cannot leave the secure dock.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/sto...aring-ends