the X-diction of Assange, in spite of the risk

För att möjliggöra utlämning även vid grova brott, för vilka amerikansk lag stadgar dödsstraff, tillämpas ett garanti system där utlämning till USA av en grov brottsling kan villkoras mot att USA lämnar tillräckliga garantier för att dödsstraff inte kommer att utdömas eller verkställas.

In order to permit extradition even in serious cases, for which American law prescribes the death penalty, apply to a guarantee scheme in which extradition to the United States of a serious criminal can be made conditionally if the United States provides sufficient guarantees that the death penalty will not be imposed or enforced.

Read the Verdict by
Howard Riddle 
Senior District Judge

There was at one stage a suggestion that Mr Assange could be extradited to the USA (possibly to Guantanamo Bay or to execution as a traitor).  The only live evidence on the point came from the defence witness Mr Alhem who said it couldn’t happen.  In the absence of any evidence that Mr Assange risks torture or execution Mr Robertson was right not to pursue this point in closing.  It may be worth adding that I do not know if Sweden has an extradition treaty with the United States of America. There has been no evidence regarding this. I would expect that there is such a treaty. If Mr Assange is surrendered to Sweden and a request is made to Sweden for his extradition to the United States of America, then article 28 of the framework decision applies. In such an event the consent of the Secretary of State in this country will be required, in accordance with section 58 of the Extradition Act 2003, before Sweden can order Mr Assange’s extradition to a third State. The Secretary of State is required to give notice to Mr Assange unless it is impracticable to do so. Mr Assange would have the protection of the courts in Sweden and, as the Secretary of State’s decision can be reviewed, he would have the protection  of the English courts also. But none of this was argued.