Computer Hacker Loses His Appeal

Gary McKinnon


A Briton accused of hacking into secret military computers has lost his appeal against extradition to the US.
Glasgow-born Gary McKinnon was said to be "distraught" after losing the appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. He faces extradition within two weeks.
The unemployed man could face life in jail if convicted of accessing 97 US military and Nasa computers.
The 42-year-old admitted breaking into the computers from his London home but said he sought information on UFOs.
Mr McKinnon asked the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to delay his extradition pending a full appeal to the court against his extradition but his application was refused.
He claimed the extradition would breach his human rights.
'Absolutely devastated'
His solicitor Karen Todner said this had been her client's "last chance" and appealed to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to intervene.
Our client now faces the prospect of prosecution and imprisonment thousands of miles away from his family in a country in which he has never set foot
Solicitor Karen Todner
"He is absolutely devastated by the decision," she said. "He and his family are distraught.
"They are completely beside themselves. He is terrified by the prospect of going to America."
She added Mr McKinnon had recently been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome and would ask for the case to be tried in this country.
"The offences for which our client's extradition is sought were committed on British soil and we maintain that any prosecution ought to be carried out by the appropriate British authorities," she added.
"Our client now faces the prospect of prosecution and imprisonment thousands of miles away from his family in a country in which he has never set foot."
Mr McKinnon, from Wood Green, north London, was arrested in 2002 but never charged in the UK.

Previous Post On This Story

I found heads up on this at Alien Casebook
Original Source at BBC News