Assange ‘too ill for court’
JULIAN Assange has failed to appear in court amid concerns for his health.
The Wikileaks founder, 47, was due to face Westminster magistrates via videolink from Belmarsh Prison in his fight against extradition to the US.
He is in the jail’s hospital wing after dramatic weight loss, supporters said.
In yesterday’s hearing, chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot referred to him as “not very well”.
She set a date of June 12 for his next appearance. A TERMINALLY ill grandfather is demanding the Government stops forcing motor neurone disease sufferers through the “humiliating and devastating process” of having to reapply for their benefits.
Ron Stevenson, 69, was horrified when he got a letter warning his would be axed unless he reapplied – even though he is paralysed and has just six months to live.
The former special needs teacher, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2010, relies on the weekly payments to supplement his care.
He said it was “crazy” he and other sufferers had to be reassessed by the Department for Work and Pensions every three years as the condition is terminal.
He added: “It was devastating when we got the letter... we knew it had happened to many other people with MND. We felt harassed, humiliated, because I am totally paralysed and have been for some time – yet the DWP think it’s necessary for me to be reassessed to see whether I am still disabled.”
Ron this week discovered after weeks of worry his personal independence payments of up to £150 a week would continue. But he had already been forced to get a form from his GP RON STEVENSON ON RECLAIMING BENEFITS
We felt harassed, humiliated, because I am totally paralysed