Swedish criminal law specialist Bjorn Hurtig on Tuesday gave proof at the extradition hearing of Assange, who prosecutors need in Sweden to answer allegations lodged by 2 girls.
After giving Assange a inexperienced lightweight to go away Sweden on September thirteen, investigators then needed to question him later constant month, however he had left the country. Subsequently a ecu warrant was issued by Swedish authorities and he was arrested in London.
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Mr Hurtig, contracted as Assange's Swedish lawyer in early September, told the court on Tuesday his shopper was "worried" at the time he left Sweden thanks to threats created towards him concerning his WikiLeaks web site.
"There were lots of threatening statements created by politicians within the US and, I think, from Australia ... you must keep in mind that in this era I've known Julian he has really received death threats within the media ... that he ought to be given the death sentence," Mr Hurtig said, using an interpreter, in court on Tuesday.
"As a consequence of this Julian was duly worried."
For a amount Mr Hurtig couldn't contact Assange, however that his shopper told him he would be in contact when he had found a "stable place".
Assange next created contact by text message from "somewhere in Germany", the lawyer said.
Prior to leaving Sweden, Assange had offered to talk with investigators and did thus once more when departing, by phone or Skype, however prosecutors said he should be interrogated in-person.
Assange then offered to come back to Sweden for questioning on October nine or ten, a weekend, however the prosecutor hooked up to the case, Marianne Ny, said those days weren't appropriate.
"She (Ms Ny) refused as a result of police would ought to work overtime," Mr Hurtig said.
"That created me believe the accusations were terribly weak."
Assange, 39, denies the claims of "minor rape" against one amongst the ladies and sexual assault involving violence against the opposite, that are speculated to have occurred in August 2010.
Assange's lawyers concern that if extradited, their shopper are going to be interrogated, refused bail, and tried in a very closed court, before Swedish authorities hand him over to the US where he's being investigated for his controversial web site.
Prosecutors have assured Assange's human rights if extradited to Sweden, and on Tuesday strengthened that "as a matter of law and practice" he couldn't be subsequently sent to the US.
The two-day hearing before District decide Howard Riddle, has coated the validity of a warrant being issued for Assange and has heard from four Swedish skilled witnesses.
The matter has been adjourned to a future date for parties to create final submissions.
