Julian Assange will 'probably' be cleared of all charges

[MrsToddsShortcut]

Sorry if this is elsewhere, but couldn't see it. Apparantly the statute of limitations for prosecution in Sweden (which I believe is 5 years) runs out next week.

On account of his 'hiding out' at the Embassy in London and avoiding extradition, it now looks as though he will be 'cleared'. (This is the term the media are using, although I have no idea if this is legally the correct term).

As a survivor of both rape and sexual assault that were not ever prosecuted, this has really shaken me up - far more than I expected. I feel very much for the two women involved and it didn't occur to me that this might be a possible outcome. It seems so wrong that women who have been potentially raped/assaulted should miss their day in court on what seems to me to be a technicality

Sorry, trying to link on my phone

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11797757/Julian-Assange-set-to-be-cleared-as-sex-allegations-expire.html

Awful, just awful. I expect when they made the law they didn't think of people hiding in embassies.

It's poor, but on the other hand he's wrecked his life by committing these assaults, spent years hiding in a room and made himself look like a ginormous twat (as indeed he clearly is)... Compared to most sexual assaulters he has very much not got off scot free.

Trust me, there are many many people who think that Assange is some kind of tortured political prisoner.

I wonder if he will actually leave the Embassy when the charges run out? Or, as I suspect, he'll keeping hiding in there like the rat he is, the Americans won't let their charges against him drop!

There still seem to be enough people that hero worship him for his life to be unaffected I think.

I suspect he'd have been tried for the sexual assaults (they take it quite seriously there) and then, once he'd been acquitted/served his time, he'd have been extradited to the US. Which hopefully will still happen.

That's crap. So all you have to do in Sweden is avoid justice for five years and then you're home free? Not impressed.

I hadn't noticed this before, but according to this link, they have until 2020 to interview him about the alleged rape as it is considered a more serious charge. Will he stay in the embassy until then?

It does concern me that so many people seem to entirely misunderstand the definition of rape (post 2003 sexual offences act) in British law and so think he's innocent. Much like Ched Evan's supporters. And the suggestion that he has been 'cleared' will suggest to huge numbers of people that he was innocent of all allegations all along.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19426382

That's true, MrsTodd. It would be more honest to say simply he is getting away with it "he is no longer subject to prosecution"

"That's crap. So all you have to do in Sweden is avoid justice for five years and then you're home free? Not impressed."

I assume different crimes have different time limits.

I very much hope the term " cleared" gets dropped.

Yes, 'charges have been dropped follow the expiry of the time limit' would be much better. 'Cleared' is utterly the wrong word.

I can't imagine anything worse than having Richard Dawkins inviting himself to my birthday party

The thing about extradition from Sweden is rubbish too as it's much easier to extradite someone to US from UK than it is Sweden and he came here happily enough (before hiding in the embassy). It's just something his conspiracy loving supporters say.

I'd be surprised if they had a 5 year statue of limitations on sex offences is Sweden

The whole limitations thing seems bizarre to me, as an English person, I never even knew it existed until a couple of years ago with a case in the USA. I mean it's normal to them obviously just goes to show how immersed we are in how things work where we're from iyswim. I can understand the reasons behind it but for some things especially sex offences and extra especially ones involving children it's really inappropriate. So in some countries people who have been imprisoned here for "historical" offences would have had no case to answer. I think that's very wrong. Like, I'm not sure if they can do anything about bill Cosby because of this. But women have been complaining about him for years.

Anyway assange is a cock and I find it really depressing that so many people when they like a persons art or work or whatever are willing to turn a blind eye to pretty much anything.

"Anyway assange is a cock and I find it really depressing that so many people when they like a persons art or work or whatever are willing to turn a blind eye to pretty much anything."

Yup

Quite.

"Julian Assange has spent more time incarcerated in the small rooms of the embassy, with no access to fresh air or exercise and contrary to international law, than he could ever spend in a Swedish prison on these allegations."

That was his choice though - to equate it to prison is laughable.

I understand Helena Kennedy's commitment to the cab rank principle but I wish she wasn't on this case.