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16/10/2012
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.
The the extradition order against McKinnon has been withdrawn and it will now be for the director of public prosecutions to decide whether he should be prosecuted in Britain for hacking into US military computers more than 10 years ago.
Mr McKinnon had been fighting extradition since 2006. He admits accessing US government computers but claims he was looking for evidence of UFOs.
The 46-year-old, who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, could face 60 years in jail if convicted in the US.
May also went on to announce that while she found the much-criticised US-UK extradition to be "broadly sound", she would introduce a "forum bar" which will give a British court the power to bar prosecution overseas if it believes it would be fairer for the accused to face a British trial.
However she added that she intended to scrap the very home secretary's discretion on human rights grounds that enabled her to halt McKinnon's extradition. "Matters such as representations on human rights grounds should, in future, be considered by the high court rather than the home secretary," she told MPs. "This change, which will significantly reduce delays in certain cases, will require primary legislation."
She also opened the door for more wide-ranging reform of the extradition process to reduce the delays of up to 14 years by looking again at the provision of legal aid for terror suspects in national security cases and introducing a permission stage for appeals to UK courts.
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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.
The the extradition order against McKinnon has been withdrawn and it will now be for the director of public prosecutions to decide whether he should be prosecuted in Britain for hacking into US military computers more than 10 years ago.
Mr McKinnon had been fighting extradition since 2006. He admits accessing US government computers but claims he was looking for evidence of UFOs.
The 46-year-old, who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, could face 60 years in jail if convicted in the US.
May also went on to announce that while she found the much-criticised US-UK extradition to be "broadly sound", she would introduce a "forum bar" which will give a British court the power to bar prosecution overseas if it believes it would be fairer for the accused to face a British trial.
However she added that she intended to scrap the very home secretary's discretion on human rights grounds that enabled her to halt McKinnon's extradition. "Matters such as representations on human rights grounds should, in future, be considered by the high court rather than the home secretary," she told MPs. "This change, which will significantly reduce delays in certain cases, will require primary legislation."
She also opened the door for more wide-ranging reform of the extradition process to reduce the delays of up to 14 years by looking again at the provision of legal aid for terror suspects in national security cases and introducing a permission stage for appeals to UK courts.
(H)
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09 October 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.
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.
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.
07 December 2011
Albanian Spy Chief Flees UK Extradition Hearing
A manhunt has been launched for the former head of Albanian Intelligence, who failed to attend an extradition hearing on charges of torture and kidnapping in his home country.
Albanian Spy Chief Flees UK Extradition Hearing
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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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