Magistrate: 'Assange backers failed in their basic duty'
– Chief Magistrate Howard RiddleI accept that they trusted Mr Assange to surrender himself as required. I accept that they followed the proceedings and made necessary arrangements to remain in contact with him.
However, they failed in their basic duty, to ensure his surrender. They must have understood the risk and the concerns of the courts.
Both this court and the High Court assessed that there were substantial grounds to believe the defendant would abscond, and that the risk could only be met by stringent conditions including the sureties.
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