We need truth, says Assange's wife at start of his final court fight

JULIAN ASSANGE was today mounting his final court battle to avoid extradition to the United States on espionage charges.

- Tristan Kirk

His wife Stella told a crowd outside the High Court: “Julian needs his freedom and we all need the truth”.

The Wikileaks founder, 52, has been locked in a battle against extradition for almost 15 years since he orchestrated the publication of information about the Iraq and Afghan wars as well as detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

Hundreds of his supporters gathered at the Royal Courts of Justice this morning for the start of the two-day hearing, which was expected to be his final legal battle in the UK.

Assange spent more than seven years holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy in Knightsbridge, and has been held in maximum security HMP Belmarsh since 2019.

Outside court, Mrs Assange told the crowd: “We have two big days ahead. We don’t know what to expect. But you are here because the world is watching. They have to know they can’t get away with this. Julian needs his freedom and we all need the truth.”

Assange is wanted for trial in the US over the release through Wikileaks of around 250,000 military documents and cables in 2010 and 2011. He is accused of 18 charges, including allegations of espionage.

His supporters claim he was being prosecuted for journalistic activities, and argue the charges — first brought under the presidency of Donald Trump — were politically-motivated.