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09/10/2009
Pentagon 'Hacker' Loses Extradition Trial
After three years fighting extradition to the USA, a British computer hacker who breached top-secret defence computers may now be facing more than 60 years in jail.
Gary McKinnon has been refused permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court against his extradition to US. Now, Mr McKinnon, a 43-year-old-man from north London - who suffers with Asperger's syndrome - is to face charges of breaking into US military networks in 2001.
He has admitted that he did it, but insists he didn't cause any damage because he was just seeking evidence of UFOs - which is his obsession.
Last summer, he lost a High Court bid to avoid extradition. Now, the court has decided the case is not of "general public importance", which is necessary to be pursued at the higher level, and McKinnon could now faces over 60 years in prison if convicted in the US.
Mr McKinnon had challenged the refusal of Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, to put him on trial in the UK on charges of computer misuse.
Giving the court's decision, Lord Justice Stanley Burnton, said extradition was "a lawful and proportionate response" to his alleged offending.
He also said McKinnon would be unlikely to succeed with his claim that extradition would breach his right to a private and family life, under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
Nor did the court think that extradition to the US would be a breach of his right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment under Article 3.
Although the decision has ended his legal options in the UK, his lawyers said they would take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
They argue the extradition of their client would have "disastrous consequences" for his health, including possible psychosis and suicide.
His solicitor, Karen Todner, said: "This is the wholesale destruction and bullying of a small individual by the United States and now our own government.”
McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp, considered the decision "devoid of humanity" and added no other country would offer its citizens to the US so readily "as sacrificial lambs" just to safeguard the special political relationship.
The Tories also criticized the extradition process, with Backbench MP David Davis commenting: "British government created a set of laws and agreements which, masquerading as anti-terror laws, actually disadvantaged a whole range of British citizens."
See: British UFO Hacker Loses Extradition Case
(CL/BMcC)
Gary McKinnon has been refused permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court against his extradition to US. Now, Mr McKinnon, a 43-year-old-man from north London - who suffers with Asperger's syndrome - is to face charges of breaking into US military networks in 2001.
He has admitted that he did it, but insists he didn't cause any damage because he was just seeking evidence of UFOs - which is his obsession.
Last summer, he lost a High Court bid to avoid extradition. Now, the court has decided the case is not of "general public importance", which is necessary to be pursued at the higher level, and McKinnon could now faces over 60 years in prison if convicted in the US.
Mr McKinnon had challenged the refusal of Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, to put him on trial in the UK on charges of computer misuse.
Giving the court's decision, Lord Justice Stanley Burnton, said extradition was "a lawful and proportionate response" to his alleged offending.
He also said McKinnon would be unlikely to succeed with his claim that extradition would breach his right to a private and family life, under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
Nor did the court think that extradition to the US would be a breach of his right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment under Article 3.
Although the decision has ended his legal options in the UK, his lawyers said they would take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
They argue the extradition of their client would have "disastrous consequences" for his health, including possible psychosis and suicide.
His solicitor, Karen Todner, said: "This is the wholesale destruction and bullying of a small individual by the United States and now our own government.”
McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp, considered the decision "devoid of humanity" and added no other country would offer its citizens to the US so readily "as sacrificial lambs" just to safeguard the special political relationship.
The Tories also criticized the extradition process, with Backbench MP David Davis commenting: "British government created a set of laws and agreements which, masquerading as anti-terror laws, actually disadvantaged a whole range of British citizens."
See: British UFO Hacker Loses Extradition Case
(CL/BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
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16 October 2012
Computer Hacker McKinnon Will Not Be Extradition
Home Sectrary Theresa May has decided that computer hacker Gary McKinnon will not be extradited to the United States, citing human right grounds. She said that there was such a high risk of McKinnon, 46, who has Asperger's syndrome and suffers from depressive illness, ending his life that it was incompatible with his human rights.
Computer Hacker McKinnon Will Not Be Extradition
Home Sectrary Theresa May has decided that computer hacker Gary McKinnon will not be extradited to the United States, citing human right grounds. She said that there was such a high risk of McKinnon, 46, who has Asperger's syndrome and suffers from depressive illness, ending his life that it was incompatible with his human rights.
03 April 2007
British hacker loses extradition battle
A British man accused of carrying out "the biggest military computer hack of all time" has lost his High Court fight to avoid extradition to the US. Gary McKinnon, from Wood Green, north London, is accused of accessing 97 computers, used by the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defence and NASA, causing around £370,000 worth of damage.
British hacker loses extradition battle
A British man accused of carrying out "the biggest military computer hack of all time" has lost his High Court fight to avoid extradition to the US. Gary McKinnon, from Wood Green, north London, is accused of accessing 97 computers, used by the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defence and NASA, causing around £370,000 worth of damage.
23 January 2009
Hacker Wins Right To Challenge Extradition
A British hacker has been granted permission by the High Court to apply for a judicial review against his extradition to the United States. Gary McKinnon, 42, from Wood Green, who admitted hacking into US military computers, was diagnosed last August as having Aspeger's Syndrome.
Hacker Wins Right To Challenge Extradition
A British hacker has been granted permission by the High Court to apply for a judicial review against his extradition to the United States. Gary McKinnon, 42, from Wood Green, who admitted hacking into US military computers, was diagnosed last August as having Aspeger's Syndrome.
31 July 2009
Hacker Loses Appeal Against US Extradition
British hacker Gary McKinnon has lost his latest High Court legal action to avoid extradition to the USA. Mr McKinnon, 43, who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, is accused of the "biggest military hack of all time", accessing 97 government computers belonging to organisations including the US military and Nasa.
Hacker Loses Appeal Against US Extradition
British hacker Gary McKinnon has lost his latest High Court legal action to avoid extradition to the USA. Mr McKinnon, 43, who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, is accused of the "biggest military hack of all time", accessing 97 government computers belonging to organisations including the US military and Nasa.
28 August 2008
British 'Hacker' Loses US Extradition Appeal
A British computer expert, accused of hacking into secret military computers has today lost his appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, and now faces extradition to the US. Gary McKinnon, born in Glasgow, will face extradition to the United States in the next fortnight, his solicitor has said.
British 'Hacker' Loses US Extradition Appeal
A British computer expert, accused of hacking into secret military computers has today lost his appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, and now faces extradition to the US. Gary McKinnon, born in Glasgow, will face extradition to the United States in the next fortnight, his solicitor has said.
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