Secret trial for WikiLeaks founder

LONDON, United Kingdom (AP):

The lawyer for Julian Assange argued yesterday that the embattled WikiLeaks founder will face a secret trial that violates international standards of fairness if sent to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations.

Geoffrey Robertson told an extradition hearing that Assange would not get a fair trial because of his notoriety and because Swedish rape cases are customarily held without the public or media present to protect the alleged victims.

Closed-door hearings would be "a flagrant denial of justice ... blatantly unfair, not only by British standards but by European standards and indeed by international standards," Robertson said.