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

Well yes it was absolutely his decision to hole up at the Ecuadorean Embassy. Totally ridiculous and he is an appalling narcissistic twat.

But to me this case shows how things have improved in recent decades. 20-30 years ago a charismatic anti-establishment leader like Assange could have committed these type of crimes with total impunity. The victims would probably not have complained, and if they had they'd have been mocked and/or ignored.

Of course there are still far too many people who have mocked and ignored them, but the fact that Sweden has taken the allegations seriously, and the fact that Assange has had his life plan seriously fucked up as a result of his (alleged) rape and sexual assaults, feels like some progress to me.

I agree YonicScrewdriver It makes me sad that she's involved in this. I think she's amazing usually.

Statements from Assange like this:
There was no need for any of this. I am an innocent man. I haven't even been charged
really piss me off because he knows how stupid it is. He CAN'T be charged without being interviewed.

from the BBC article- "The Wikileaks founder said he was "extremely disappointed" and said the Swedish prosecutor had avoided hearing his side of the story."

Yeah those Swedish prosecutors have been hiding out and avoiding any attempt JA has made to talk with them - WTAF?

Is he still likely to face UK charges due to jumping bail when he comes out though? As far as I'm aware those won't expire....

We are not spending money to help him evade the legal process, the police are there to arrest him if he steps foot outside the embassy.

Assange is a vile dick head and so many people are so caught up in hating America that they cant see what an nasty scum bag this man is

The americans have never charged him or threatened to, so extradition is not an issue, just a load of bollocks made up to justify him running from the rape conviction.

The people paying for him to stay are the Ecuadoreans, as nancy said, we are just paying for ther police to stand outside and arrest him if he leaves. On another note, various great and good lefties lost £340,000 for bail.

I think he is obnoxious. The stuff about him being extradited to the States is nonsense in my opinion. As pp said it is harder to extradite someone from Sweden than the UK. I can't believe the Ecuadorians granted him asylum. I think he committed the crimes and is using this wikileaks smokescreen to avoid facing justice for it.

He's a despicable human being.

I've never understood the Ecuadorian embassy thing though. Why Ecuador? Can anyone rock up at the embassy of their choice and demand they be housed and fed indefinitely? Or did Ecuador actually agree to help hide this disgusting weasel of a man?

Ah, cross post. They granted him asylum?

Yup. If he could leave the embassy and go to the airport he could fly there but if he leaves then he won't be protected any more.

They granted him asylum as a fuck you to the U.S, their statement when he was given asylum was all about wikileaks, they don't give a shit about him being a rapist.

"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"

OMG. Well, if you don't like it, open the front door of the Embassy and WALK OUT then!!!!

God knows he's leached off their hospitality long enough. I hope none of the Embassy staff ever decide to take a sly 40 winks on site. They might awaken to discover Assange having sex with them.

No access to fresh air! I'm pretty sure they have windows and in the early days I thought he was greeting his followers from a balcony? Assange must have thought he would go in for a couple of weeks and there would be a big outcry to save him, however most people have just forgotten about it and he has been left stuck there, the embassy stuff must be well and truly sick of him. Imagine going to work every morning and having that twat just hanging around all day, feeling sorry for himself.

The embassy hate it. They have employed guards to get his food etc and had to put key card controls on all doors to prevent him accessing areas he is not allowed to at night.
Apparantly he is also bad at personal hygiene.

I wonder if the embassy has things like proper bathrooms? I dont think staff usually live in? Dirty sod probably hasn't had a proper wash for years

I'm sure the embassy has at least a shower.

I very much object to Kennedy equating his time there to time in prison but with worse conditions. He wants exercise? - he can leave. He'd rather be in prison? He can plead guilty and go to jail in Sweden - or stand trial and take his chances.

I couldn't care less whether or not Assange has access to a shower. He chose to put himself in that situation. He could walk out of the door at any time. And frankly, if I were on the Ecuadorean staff, I'd be tempted to give him a push!

They actually converted on of the female toilets into a bathroom for him. He does have access, just choses not to wash - was like this previously.