Expert Witness: Sweden's Assange Case Dubious

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

Former Swedish Chief Prosecutor, Now a Witness for Assange's Lawyers in UK Extradition Hearing, Raises Questions

(CBS/AP) LONDON - A Swedish legal expert said Tuesday there were serious irregularities in the way prosecutors built their sex crimes case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Sven-Erik Alhem, a former chief prosecutor in Sweden, said prosecutor Marianne Ny "should have made sure Assange was able to give his version of events in detail."

Assange's lawyers say prosecutors have rebuffed his offer to be questioned from London about rape and sexual misconduct claims by two Swedish women. The head of the secret-spilling website denies wrongdoing.

Alhem, a defense witness, also said it was "extraordinary" that a prosecutor had leaked Assange's name to the media.

CBS News producer Steve Berriman says Alhem also questioned the prosecution's choice of words in referring to Assange as "the accused."

"In my view the word accused does not correspond with the Swedish word "suspect", he said, saying Assange should have been referred to as a "suspect."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/08/world/main7328818.shtml?tag=stack

[dipsydoodle]

1. Twitter link to court proceedings

http://twitter.com/annaadamsbbc

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.

[elias49]

3. I thought that Assange's accusers were to be in court today.

I see no evidence that they were.