Julian Assange hires another lawyer in extradition case

WIKILEAKS FOUNDER Julian Assange has fired his lawyer in favour of one with experience in batting for The Pirate Bay, according to a Swedish news report.

According to The Local.se web site, Assange has a brand new defence team in his continuing fight against extradition to Sweden where he faces questions about alleged sex crimes.

Assange has filed a petition with the Stockholm District Court, says the newspaper, and communicated his desire to change his representation to attorneys Per Samuelson and Thomas Olsson.

Olsson is reviewing the case already, but has little to say on the motives behind Assange's decision. "He'll have to explain his motivation behind changing defenders," he told The Local.

"You'll have to ask him why he's decided to change. But it's not unusual that someone change lawyers and he's chosen two superb new representatives. I wish him the best of luck," said outgoing defence attorney Björn Hurtig.

Samuelson previously represented financier Carl Lundström, one of the four defendants in the 2009 Pirate Bay trial, all of whom were found guilty. µ