The Jester found encrypted Trojans throughout all of the WikiLeaks documents. Sounds like something out of a movie, but they are probably set to run if something takes place or doesn't take place, such as on XX date, if Assange doesn't enter a key on a website, then the Trojans run, dumping whatever file and/or doing whatever harm to computers they are on. Remember, Assange isn't a journalist or a site host, he is a pretty famous hacker who used to wreak havoc on the NSA.
That explains why he is still alive.
>> then the Trojans run
What value would a leaking Trojan provide a dead man?