Assange case postponed

London – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared confused at a London court hearing yesterday, struggling to recall his name and age in his first public appearance in months as he sought to fight extradition to the US.

Assange, 48, who spent seven years holed up in Ecuador’s embassy before he was dragged out in April, faces 18 counts in the US, including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law.

Yesterday he was clean-shaven, without the long beard he had worn at his last public appearance in May, when he was sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for skipping bail.

He appeared in good health, with his white hair combed back and wearing a navy suit over a light blue sweater and white shirt.

But Assange mumbled and stuttered as he gave his name and date of birth at the start of a preliminary hearing in the case.

When the judge asked him at the end of the hearing if he knew what was happening, he replied “not exactly”, complained about the conditions in jail, and said he was unable to “think properly”.

He said: “I don’t understand how this is equitable. I can’t research anything, I can’t access any of my writing. It’s very difficult where I am.”

Assange is being held in a British jail pending the US extradition, having served his sentence for skipping bail.

The public gallery was jammed with his supporters, including former London mayor Ken Livingstone. – Reuters