WikiLeaks Founder Assange Faces Last Legal Roll of the Dice in Britain to Avoid US Extradition

LONDON—Julian Assange’s lawyers opened a final UK legal challenge Tuesday to stop the WikiLeaks founder from being sent to the United States to face spying charges, arguing that American authorities are seeking to punish him for exposing serious criminal acts by the U.S. government.

Lawyer Edward Fitzgerald said Mr. Assange may “suffer a flagrant denial of justice” if he is sent to the U.S. At a two-day High Court hearing, Mr. Assange’s attorneys are asking judges to grant a new appeal, his last legal roll of the dice in Britain.

Mr. Assange himself was not in court. Judge Victoria Sharp said he was granted permission to come from Belmarsh Prison for the hearing, but had chosen not to attend. Mr. Fitzgerald said the 52-year-old Australian was unwell.

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