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Julian Assange Goes Free

Thanks supporters, the British justice system

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 16, 2010 1:22 PM CST

(Newser) – Julian Assange walked out of a British courtroom a free man today, after a lengthy court hearing to work out the logistics of his bail. “It's great to smell the fresh air of London again,” Assange told the gathered reporters, adding that, “If justice is not always the outcome, at least it is not dead yet.” He vowed to protest his innocence “as we get, which we have not yet, the evidence from these allegations.”

British and Swedish prosecutors had argued that Assange was a flight risk. But the judge noted that soon after arriving in Britain, Assange had his lawyers contact police about the case. “That is not the conduct of a person who is seeking to evade justice,” he said. As a condition of his bail, Assange will have to check in regularly with British police, the Guardian reports.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange delivers a statement to the media outside the High Court, London, after his release on bail, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange delivers a statement to the media outside the High Court, London, after his release on bail, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up a court document for the media after he was released on bail, outside the High Court, London, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up a court document for the media after he was released on bail, outside the High Court, London, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up a court document for the media after he was released on bail, outside the High Court, London, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up a court document for the media after he was released on bail, outside the High Court, London, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
HMunster
Dec 16, 2010 4:09 PM CST
Michael Moore must be happy. He might even go out and celebrate at an all-you-can-eat Sizzler...
MDK
Dec 16, 2010 3:28 PM CST
Bullshit alert: Fresh air? In London? My arse.
bowtiejack
Dec 16, 2010 2:21 PM CST
It's good to know that the British and Swedish prosecutors are working with the American intelligence services to keep us safe and ignorant. Better yet, they've managed to hang the "rapist" label on the guy! American Intelligence is the best! (Well, they did blow 911, but nobody's perfect. This guy is much more dangerous than a planeload of armed Saudis.) And while we're on it, Osama Bin Laden better watch his ass or the State Department will put out a really harsh press release. Didn't you love the Swedish prosecutors saying nobody was telling them what to do in rebringing these stale charges? They're so cute!
 

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