Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation • Hacker News Board

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#41

Post by dsfyu404ed » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:19 PM UTC

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #11

lettergram wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I recall the evidence was always pretty weak. I don’t have time to find the news article from back then, but it was “sexual assault” because he didn’t wear a condom and at the time the woman (perhaps plural) didn’t want to really participate. Could be wrong though... Does anyone have some news from back then?

"didn't really want to participate" is basically the definition of sexual assault.

Your definition of sexual assault is dangerously lacking in nuance.

Most people who have had long term sexual partners have had a time or two where they "didn't really want to participate" but did anyway without much/any complaining for the sake of their partner. Are all all those instances "basically sexual assault"?

Watering down the definition of sexual assault to include instances where nobody felt assaulted in any way does not result in it being taken more seriously.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#42

Post by k1m » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:19 PM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #38

It's not torture if you can leave at any time. He wasn't being held in the embassy, he was hiding there.

"Melzer was accompanied during his prison visit on 9 May by two medical experts specialised in examining potential victims of torture and other ill-treatment."

Are you saying we should take your word over theirs?

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#43

Post by pjc50 » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:19 PM UTC

djsumdog wrote: post #9

So he still gets almost another full year in a UK jail. After that, where can he go? Let's just say he's somehow successful at avoiding US extradition (unlikely), he's not going to be able to stay in the UK (unless he has dual citizenship or can somehow claim dual citizenship through a relative). He'd have to request asylum from another European nation that he can safety get to without flying. Australia did little to…

If not extradited to the US, he would most likely end up being deported to his country of origin (Australia) directly.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#44

Post by willis936 » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:19 PM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #37

willis936 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And they probably shouldn’t. Statute of limitations should only be to protect against fast changes to the law that apply retroactively.

? Law is almost never retroactive, especially not for criminal law.

It is something that is within the lawmakers’ power to do.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#45

Post by acollins1331 » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:20 PM UTC

How does that prosecutor sleep at night knowing they lie for a foreign government? I also thought Sweden was supposed to be one of the countries that actually cared about human rights, too.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#46

Post by Roark66 » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:20 PM UTC

djsumdog wrote: post #9

So he still gets almost another full year in a UK jail. After that, where can he go? Let's just say he's somehow successful at avoiding US extradition (unlikely), he's not going to be able to stay in the UK (unless he has dual citizenship or can somehow claim dual citizenship through a relative). He'd have to request asylum from another European nation that he can safety get to without flying. Australia did little to…

If he is released from UK jail he can hop onto a ferry and go to mainland EU. There he could travel to anywhere within the Shengen zone. I'm not sure about western countries, but Poland(as well as other eastern countries I believe) will not extradite anyone anywhere unless the crime is also considered a crime here, there is no possibility of death penalty, and there is strong evidence submitted that makes a conviction likely. By its definition treason against a country can be committed, by a citizen of that country. Assange is not a US citizen so he can't commit a crime of treason against US - end of story. US could try to get him on some other charges - espionage perhaps, but there would have to be strong evidence which allegedly is severely lacking. This is why it is very important for US to have Assange extradited from UK. UK has a "special" extradition deal with US that simplifies the procedure.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#47

Post by pjc50 » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:21 PM UTC

willis936 wrote: post #44

pjc50 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

? Law is almost never retroactive, especially not for criminal law.

It is something that is within the lawmakers’ power to do.

Yes(+), but that has nothing to do with statute of limitations - if something's going to the extreme of retroactive criminal law, there will be a clause which says "and the statute of limitations does not apply".

(+) arguably it isn't, in ECHR juristictions

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#48

Post by criley2 » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:21 PM UTC

himinlomax wrote: post #31

criley2 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. His self-imposed sequester was not in prison and had NOTHING to do with justice or serving time. He willingly chose his location and is allowed to leave it at any moment. Can you say that of any prisoner? He had free access to internet and visitors and many many luxuries rightfully denied to criminals serving time 2. Even if you think his "self-imposed punishment" was bad, it categorically by definition is not jus…

He chose conditions that were arguably worse in most respects but one (access to communication/internet) than a Swedish prison. Prison sentences in Sweden are hardly ever longer than his stay in the embassy, except for the most heinous crimes. His claim all along was that he seek refuge in the embassy were because he feared US extradition. Those claims were ridiculed by his opponents. They are now incontrovertibly ve…

>He chose conditions that were arguably worse in most respects but one (access to communication/internet) than a Swedish prison.

Are Nordic prisoners allowed to walk out the front door wheneever they choose?

Last time I checked, prison required removing freedom. You have to 'escape' prison, not walk out the front door.

Just saying, this bad rationalization only works on people biased towards Julian and looking to excuse his rape and the lack of justice therein.

Here's the killer point: if Nordic prisons are better, why didn't Julian stay there instead?

I bet he wanted internet, unlimited guest visits, London takeout, and the freedom to leave whenever he wanted, as well as being able to avoid a court trial and never have to be declared guilty.

"Justice!" (to the tune of "The Aristocrats!")

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#49

Post by mtgx » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:21 PM UTC

injb wrote: post #15

ivl wrote: post #2

> "The reason for this decision is that the evidence has weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question." I'm not sure I understand what's meant by this. Did the victims testimony change? How does evidence weaken over time?

He's now safely in police custody and the US has already revealed its plans to extradite him, so there's no longer any need for the charges in Sweden. That's what's meant by this, imo.

Or they never had any strong charges to begin with and the whole plan was to hand over Assange to the US, just Assange said.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#50

Post by jaimex2 » Tue, Nov 19, 2019, 2:21 PM UTC

Title should really be 'US takes hand out of Swedish puppet now that its free to extradite Assange'

The take away here is stay anonymous when whistle blowing or handling leaks. Don't talk to anyone, don't say anything just take a USB stick to an Internet cafe while disguised and host a torrent.

Then email the press the magnet link using a throw away email service.