Julian Assange will learn on January 4 whether he will be sent to US to face hacking charges

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will find out on January 4 whether he will be extradited to the US to face charges that could see him jailed for 175 years.   

Assange, 49, faces 18 charges including a plot to hack computers and conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information.

He is said to have plotted with defence analyst Chelsea Manning to crack an encrypted password on US Department of Defence computers. 

The 49-year-old faces up to 175 years in prison if convicted of espionage offences in the US.

Australian-born Assange has been fighting extradition since April 2019, he was when he was carried out of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after Ecuador revoked his asylum status. 

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser has reserved judgement after hearing dozens of witnesses called by Assange’s legal team in a bid to persuade her to block his extradition.

Appearing via video-link from HMP Belmarsh, Assange spoke to confirm his name and date of birth.

Edward Fitzgerald QC, for Assange, said: ‘This is just a caller over, we are in contact with Judge Baraitser about the timetable. I think that she is dealing with that.

‘On behalf of Mr Assange there are no submissions.’

Last month the Old Bailey was told Assange faces a fate ‘worse than death’ if extradited to the US and could live out his years in isolation in maximum security ADX Colerado jail.

 Senior District Judge Tan Ikram, standing in for Judge Baraitser at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, said: ‘I am going to adjourn this case. I will re-list the matter for 26 November and Mr Assange shall remain in custody until then.’

He confirmed judgement would still be given on 4 January 2021.