see url:
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/26/assange_to_uk_court_withdraw_this_unwarranted_warrant/
quote<<< WikiLeaker-in-chief Julian Assange has asked a British court to
withdraw an arrest warrant against him, hoping that this would finally allow
him to stop his unending Ecuadorean couch-surf.
His defence counsel, extradition law specialist Mark Summers QC, told
Westminster Magistrates' Court today that the British bail arrest warrant "had
lost its purpose and its function".
Summers' argument references the fact that the original European Arrest Warrant
issued by Swedish authorities against Assange, for questioning regarding two
allegations of sexual assault made in
2010<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/18/assange_detain_sweden>, was
removed in May 2017.
The lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service then said in court that since
Assange had "failed to surrender to custody in answer to
bail<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-assange-britain-court/british-judge-to-decide-next-month-on-assanges-bid-for-possible-freedom-idUSKBN1FF0YY>,
[therefore] the warrant still stood," adding that "rewarding" the defendant
with “effective immunity” for having dodged proceedings was not
appropriate.>>>end of Quote.
Whether the withdrawal of the EAW would remove any thoughts of prosecution from
the minds of the UK Prosecution service is a moot point. In taking up a home
in the Ecuadorian Embassy, Assange broke his bail conditions to appear in a UK
court and make himself available for a court appearance. Such behaviour would
be construed as contempt of court.
ATB
Dougie.
