Coronavirus concerns halts Assange extradition court hearing in UK
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition hearing in London was on Thursday adjourned until next week after the partner of one of the legal representatives reported suffering coronavirus symptoms.
“While the situation is uncertain, I accept hearing should be postponed,” judge Vanessa Baraitser told the Old Bailey court as she adjourned the hearing until 10:00am (0900 GMT) on Monday.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app
Assange is fighting to avoid extradition to the United States for leaking military secrets.
Most members of both legal teams attended Thursday’s proceedings remotely as they awaited the test results of the ill partner, which are due on Friday.
Read more:
UK judge warns Wikileaks' Assange he will be removed from court after outbursts
Julian Assange’s legal fight to avoid US espionage trial resumes in London
Hundreds rally in London protest for Assange ahead of extradition hearing
Assange, who was not in court on Thursday, has repeatedly raised fears about catching the virus in the high-security prison in southeast London where he is being held on remand.
“We shouldn’t really be here today, our client would be at risk,” said his lawyer Edward Fitzgerald.
The legal team for the US government agreed it would not be fair on Assange to conduct the hearing without him being able to attend in person, and backed the decision to adjourn.

He faces 18 charges under the US Espionage Act relating to the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Washington claims he helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before exposing confidential sources around the world.
If convicted, Assange -- who has been held at the high-security Belmarsh Prison for the last 16 months -- could be jailed for up to 175 years.
-
UK judge warns Wikileaks' Assange he will be removed from court after outbursts
Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder who is fighting to avoid extradition to the United States from Britain, was warned by a judge on Tuesday he will ... World News -
Julian Assange’s legal fight to avoid US espionage trial resumes in London
Julian Assange resumes his battle in a London court on Monday to avoid extradition to the United States to face criminal charges over the activities ... World News -
Coronavirus: Assange’s partner says his life in danger in UK jail
The partner of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Friday his life is in danger while he is held in a London prison during the coronavirus ... Coronavirus -
WikiLeaks founder Assange stripped naked and handcuffed, lawyer tells court
Julian Assange was stripped naked twice and handcuffed 11 times coming and going from court, the WikiLeaks founder’s lawyer told his US ... World News -
Hundreds rally in London protest for Assange ahead of extradition hearing
A few hundred protesters marched across central London Saturday to call on Britain to reject WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition to ... Digital -
WikiLeaks’ Assange appears in UK court to fight extradition to USA
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange made a brief court appearance Monday in his bid to prevent extradition to the United States to face serious espionage ... World News