Craig Murray attended a preparatory court session about extraditing Julian Assange, and reports that Assange is aging rapidly and seems mentally dazed — like torture victims Murray has seen.

Assange's lawyers were unable to talk with him until a week before the hearing, and asked for a delay so they could present their case properly. The UK magistrate refused, apparently insisting on a schedule imposed by the US.

This schedule may prevent evidence from a Spanish court, which is investigating a CIA plan to kidnap Assange, from being considered in the extradition hearing.

The actual extradition hearing will be held in a place nearly inaccessible to the public, so that the UK can violate Assange's rights without any reporting of it.