Assange ‘fears US death penalty’

Julian Assange arrived at court with his solicitor, Mark Stephens

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has arrived at court, where he is expected to find out the date of his full extradition hearing.

The 39-year-old Australian is wanted in Sweden but denies sexual offences against two women.

District Judge Nicholas Evans will oversee a case management hearing at Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Woolwich Crown Court, at 1000 GMT.

The two-day extradition hearing is due to take place in early February.

Last week the US government handed out subpoenas to the social networking site Twitter, requesting personal details of people connected to Wikileaks, including Mr Assange.

It comes amid speculation a grand jury in the US is investigating Mr Assange and others for espionage.

Mr Assange was released on bail by a High Court judge just before Christmas after spending nine days in Wandsworth prison.

He has been staying at a manor home on the Norfolk-Suffolk border owned by his journalist friend Vaughan Smith.

Mr Assange denies sexually assaulting two female supporters during a visit to Stockholm in August.

He and his supporters claim the inquiry is politically motivated.

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