By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:24 PM on 16th December 2010
- Top judge grants bail during two hour hearing
- Controversy as English CPS fights release
- Reporters banned from using Twitter in court
- Assange will move from cell to stately home
The whistleblower is expected to walk out of the Royal Courts of Justice shortly after the decision to allow his release on conditional bail pending moves to extradite him to Sweden.
Mr Justice Ouseley's ruling is the latest dramatic development after Assange was granted bail on Tuesday only to have it overturned when British prosecutors lodged an appeal.
The whistleblower had appeared confident this morning when he arrived at the High Court in London, giving the thumbs up and a V for Victory sign.
He will now swap his cell at HM Wandsworth Prison for Ellingham Hall, a ten-bedroom stately home surrounded by 600 acres of land and trees in Norfolk.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice today
Assange gives a double thumbs up ahead of the High Court hearing
The former captain in the Grenadier Guards is a video journalist and the founder of the war reporters' Frontline Club in London.
Assange had been hiding at the club in recent months while the international hunt for him intensified.
The Australian could end up having convivial meals with his supporters, who include Jemima Khan, human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger and film director Ken Loach.
Explaining his decision to offer up his home to Assange today, Cpt Smith said: 'He needs an appropriate address, he needs a safe place. We all need to stand up and say where we are on this and that's what I have done.'
Assange, who was led inside in handcuffs earlier today, was granted bail at a court hearing on Tuesday after supporters agreed to post a £240,000 surety.
But in a dramatic turn of events, he was told he would have to remain behind bars after the Swedish authorities said they would fight his release ahead of a full extradition hearing next year.
The 39-year-old, who was in handcuffs, was led into the courts behind a screen
Following the latest release of secret cables by the arch whistleblower, politicians in the U.S. have also suggested that he should be put on trial for treason and face the death penalty.
Today's application was heard by Mr Justice Ouseley - the same judge who last week granted bail to Shrien Dewani, the husband of a woman murdered on honeymoon in South Africa.
Unlike at the hearing on Tuesday, the judge immediately banned reporters from using micro-blog site Twitter in court.
The fact British lawyers are acting for the Swedish authorities and fighting against Assange's release has sparked controversy.
The Crown Prosecution Service has now confirmed it made the call to appeal against bail but would not comment on Sweden's involvement.
A spokesman said: 'It is standard practice on all extradition cases that decisions regarding bail are taken by the domestic prosecuting authority.
'It would not be practical for prosecutors in a foreign jurisdiction, who are neither present in court when decisions are made, nor familiar with the domestic laws concerning bail, to make such decisions.'
Melee: Assange's lawyer Mark Stephens arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice
Assange's mother Christine is guided through the pack of photographers outside the High Court
Posters placed by supporters outside the High Court, which declare: 'Exposing war crimes is no crime'
Outside court, he added: 'We are coming here today at the request of the Swedish Government. We are aware that the Swedes asked for an appeal, we are also aware that the Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer has also said that all that the CPS is doing is the bidding of the Swedish Government.'
In a statement on her website, Sweden's director of prosecution Marianne Ny said: 'At a hearing on Tuesday December 14, Westminster Magistrates' Court in London decided that Julian Assange should be granted bail. The decision was appealed by the British prosecutor.
'As I have already stated, I cannot at the moment provide information concerning the development of the matter, as it is handled by British authorities.'
Campaigning journalist John Pilger was among those in court to hear the latest developments in the extradition proceedings.
Outside, supporters wearing T-shirts bearing Assange's face and holding placards declaring: 'WikiLeaks, information wants to be free' were gathered in the cold.
Verena Payr had travelled all the way from Tyrol in west Austria. She said: 'I heard everything about the charges and I thought I had to do something.'
She added: 'I want to have a pint with him... It is raining, but even if it was minus 20 degrees I would still be here.'
High security: Photographers crowd the prison van as Assange arrives
Protesters outside the Royal Courts of Justice displaying their backing for Assange today
Australian journalist John Pilger (left) and author and filmmaker Tariq Ali arriving today to lend their support
'Nothing has changed in relation to the conditions of bail. We believe we will have the money today. It appears to be in the banking system.
'We certainly have pledges from people who have stood behind him on previous occasions. That money appears to be in the banking system and we are hoping it will hit the account this morning.'
He added that he was still concerned about the conditions Assange was being held in, claiming it was effectively a 'punishment regime' and 'Victorian'.
Assange has been held in solitary confinement, only released from his cell for one hour a day and his mail has been heavily censored, according to his supporters.
Internet hackers who brought down websites including MasterCard after they suspended payments to WikiLeaks have currently called a truce.
But they have only downed tools until after today's hearing - with fears they could spread more mayhem and even target Government websites.
A cyber-insurgent from the group Anonymous, which has masterminded the attacks, calling himself Bass told Sky News software to target websites has now been downloaded 300,000 times.
'We are going after the agencies that were directly involved in the censorship of WikiLeaks,' he said.
Bail bolthole: Julian Assange will be a guest at Ellingham Hall, a 10-bedroom mansion in Norfolk
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