Openness and tweeting Assange, ahem.

First in the security queue as our shoes and the contents of our pockets were scanned and then in the court canteen where I overheard the WikiLeaks editor chatting about encryption while chewing a Costa coffee cup.

Between these moments the 39-year-old has been watching his legal team challenge a European Arrest Warrant, requesting that he swap a Belmarsh court – packed with media – for a police interview room in Sweden.

If the concept of “openness” has dominated much of this hearing (a neat echo of the vast data leaks which underpin the huge interest in Mr Assange) then we in the hot and stuffy media “annex” (a portakabin) have certainly enjoyed a clear and open view of proceedings which at times have seemed a little farcical.

We are allowed to send updates on Twitter for starters. In Sweden, some court cases demand closed doors and where there are sexual allegations everything but the most basic information stays secret.

Here in the UK, not only can we sit and watch but unless the judge states otherwise, journalists are free to provide a running commentary on court proceedings via Twitter and live blogging. And our tweeting bird’s eye view has led to some amusing moments.

On Monday we had the inimitable ex-judge Brita Sundberg-Weitman dealing with the language barrier via a string of amusing “ehs?”

And today a witness triggered all-out laughter in the portakabin and a flurry of exchanges on Twitter.

Former Swedish prosecutor Sven-Erik Alhem handled stern cross-examination from the prosecution by conceding he was prone to “talking too much”.

His response took the sting out of a volley of attacks from Clare Montgomery QC (prosecution) who had accused Alhem of “wandering off the question”.

And asked if he wanted a break, he retorted: “I will carry on. I like this atmosphere.”

In a sharper exchange, Ms Montgomery ticked off Assange’s lawyer Mark Stephens (@MarksLarks on Twitter) for answering Mr Alhem’s questions for him from the other side of the room.

In headmistress tones she told him to “sit down” again provoking chuckles among those watching via video screen. Of course Ms Montgomery is no stranger to high-profile cases and the eyes of the media. She has previously represented Augusto Pinochet, the former Chilean dictator, among other political figures.

An apologetic Twitter feed? RichNeville tweeted Channel 4 News earlier to say “It’s unnerving the way @channel4news is clearing its throat at the start of every tweet at the moment.”

These things happen when a witness goes by the name of Alhem, ahem.

Julian Assange has been requested to go to Sweden to answer sexual assault and rape allegations which he denies. You can follow @annadoble on Twitter.