Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange expecting to hang on every word said in court today were dealt a blow when the judge banned tweeting.
Mr Justice Ouseley ruled supporters and journalists should not use the micro-blogging site Twitter to give a blow-by-blow account of proceedings.
A steady stream of details emerged as the smartly dressed 39-year-old Australian arrived in the dock of court four ahead of the senior judge.
But the flow was abruptly cut off after one national newspaper was denied formal permission to send messages from the court via the website.
One member of the WikiLeaks supporters forum reacted: “Boo! No Twitter allowed in court today.”
Another journalist added: “Judge says Twitter is not allowed. Goodbye.”
A decision by District Judge Howard Riddle to allow Tweeting from City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday led some to proclaim a legal first.
He said journalists could send messages as long as they were discrete and did not interfere with the judicial process.
But it remains unclear whether using the service falls foul of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 which governs behaviour in English courthouses.
Questions have been raised in the United States where some jury members have released details of their experience through the website.
Twitter has been a key source of information as controversy raged around the release of up to 250,000 leaked and highly sensitive diplomatic cables.
WikiLeaks has used Twitter to communicate its actions, including when it came under repeated denial of service attacks aimed at blocking the site.
PA