Craig Wright faced a contempt of court hearing in London today, but he decided not to attend citing a lack of means for travel. This decision could lead to him being found in contempt and potentially facing arrest and imprisonment. The hearing was brought by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) after Mr. Justice Mellor ordered Wright to attend in person last November, stating that his arguments against attending were unjustified.
There was much speculation surrounding whether Wright would appear at the London Royal Courts of Justice for the hearing. COPA accused him of trying to avoid the consequences of his contempt by not showing up. Wright tried to use his autism and Christmas plans as reasons for not attending, but COPA argued that he had breached court injunctions by filing a lawsuit against Jack Dorsey’s Square Up and BTC Core for £900 billion in damages.
Today’s High Court hearing was recorded by BitMEX Research, Bitnorbert, and patent attorney David Pearce. COPA offered to cover Wright’s travel costs, but he rejected the offer and demanded up to £240,000, claiming it reflected the loss of business opportunities due to COPA’s actions. COPA’s legal representative, Jonathan Hough from Bird & Bird, stated that Wright was voluntarily absenting himself to avoid consequences and recommended a two-year custodial sentence for him.
As the case continues to develop, updates will be provided. It remains to be seen how Wright’s decision not to attend the hearing will impact the outcome of the contempt of court proceedings. The controversy surrounding this case and Wright’s actions has drawn widespread attention within the cryptocurrency community and beyond. Stay tuned for more information on this ongoing legal battle.