HOW DOES HE LOOK?

* The Australian wore a grey suit, grey sweater and white shirt at his extradition hearing at London's Woolwich Crown Court.

* He has spent most preliminary hearings reading through case documents in a casual manner, and the first day of his extradition hearing was no different.

* He was clean-shaven with his hair cut short.

WHAT HAS HE SAID?

* Not much. Assange has to say his name and birthdate at each hearing, usually taking a long pause before saying the year - 1971.

* On Monday he broke his usual silence to address the judge: "I cannot concentrate and the noise outside is not helpful, even though I appreciate the public support (from noisy protesters) - they must be disgusted with the proceedings."

WHAT WILL HE SAY

* Not much. Despite media and human rights monitors' interest in hearing him speak to both assess his health and hear his version of events, Assange is unlikely to testify. "It's very unlikely that he would," his barrister Edward Fitzgerald said on Monday.

WHAT HAVE OTHERS SAID ABOUT HIS HEALTH?

* Defence barrister Edward Fitzgerald: "It would be oppressive and unfair to expose Julian Assange to the very high risk, if not certainty, of suicide if he is extradited to the US."

* Neuropsychiatry professor Michael Kopelman: "Mr Assange shows virtually all the risk factors which researchers from Oxford have described in prisoners who either suicide or make lethal attempts."

* Assange's father John Shipton: "I don't speak about that (his son's depression and suicide risk) because I get a bit upset."

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Australian Associated Press