WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s last-ditch appeal to avoid extradition to the United States began in London overnight, but the 52yo Australian – who had gained approval to attend in person – wasn’t present. His lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald KC, told London’s Royal Courts of Justice he was “too ill” to attend, which comes after his wife, Stella Assange, this week described his health as being “in decline, physically and mentally”. The hearing went on without him, with Fitzgerald saying Assange was being prosecuted “for engaging in ordinary journalistic practice”. Another one of his lawyers, Mark Summers KC, alleged there was evidence of a “truly breathtaking” CIA plot to assassinate Assange, which hadn’t been examined properly. Assange is facing extradition to the US on espionage and hacking charges after publishing confidential US military files related to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It could see him sentenced to 175 years in prison.