Prison computer ‘not suitable’ for Julian Assange, court told

During the five-minute hearing, attended by supporters including his father, John Shipton, Assange's remand in HMP Belmarsh was extended.

He was to be released from the high-security prison in September but was remanded in custody due to fears he would abscond after he spent nearly seven years in the Ecuadorean embassy in London.

Gareth Peirce, representing Assange, told the court her client was unable to adequately prepare for his "very challenging case" as the computer he had been given was not suitable.

"I will put it on the record, you will understand that we are working extremely hard on this very challenging case; however, the most important of the impediments that we are facing is Mr Assange's ability to access what he needs to work on his own case," she said.

"After months of battle he was provided with a computer but it is not the sort of computer needed to work on the case."

Loading

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said she had no jurisdiction over prison conditions.

Ms Peirce replied she wanted to "exert pressure as best we can" on Belmarsh to improve the computer facilities.

Speaking outside court, a member of Assange's team said the computer was unlikely to have internet access for research.

District Judge Baraitser remanded Assange in custody ahead of a substantive case management hearing next month.

See the article here:
Prison computer 'not suitable' for Julian Assange, court told