CANBERRA: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is “rediscovering” life as he tastes freedom in Australia after a five-year stretch in a London high-security jail, his spouse mentioned Thursday (Jun 27).
The 52-year-old landed in Canberra the evening earlier than, hours after pleading responsible in a US Pacific island courtroom to a single depend of unveiling army secrets and techniques.
Beneath a plea deal, he was sentenced to time already served and allowed to stroll free, ending a 14-year authorized battle with the US Division of Justice.
However the jail time has taken a toll.
Assange didn’t attend a information convention after he touched down, together with his spouse close to tears as she pleaded for household privateness and time for him to recuperate.
“He is simply savouring freedom for the primary time in 14 years. He wants time to relaxation and get well. And he’s simply rediscovering regular life. And he wants area to do this,” Stella Assange advised reporters Thursday.
“Julian plans to swim within the ocean day by day. He plans to sleep in an actual mattress. He plans to style actual meals. And he plans to take pleasure in his freedom.”
“JUMPING ON THE SOFA”
The WikiLeaks writer had but to see his two kids, who had been staying elsewhere and asleep when his airplane landed, she mentioned.
Stella Assange mentioned she despatched her husband a video on the day of his US courtroom listening to displaying their kids “leaping on the couch” on the prospect of their father’s return.
Assange spent greater than 5 years in London’s Belmarsh jail preventing extradition to the US on prices beneath the 1917 Espionage Act.
He had already lived for seven years in Ecuador’s London embassy to flee extradition to Sweden over sexual assault prices, which had been ultimately dropped.
The couple haven’t had time to debate how their lives will play out since his launch, mentioned Stella, who met Assange whereas he was nonetheless within the Ecuadorian embassy and married him within the London jail.
