By Gemma Simpson, 14 February 2007 17:10
NEWS
Gary McKinnon, the Brit accused of hacking into Nasa and US military networks, has begun his appeal in the High Court against a court decision to extradite him to the US.
McKinnon - not present in court today due to "medical problems" - was arrested in the UK in June 2005 for hacking into 97 government computers during a 12-month period starting in February 2001.
A court ruled last year that the computer expert can be extradited to the US to face charges, despite McKinnon's fears of an indefinite imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay if tried under the US' anti-terrorism laws.
Edmund Lawson, the barrister defending McKinnon, told a hearing at London's High Court: "It is not unreasonable to assume that if Mr McKinnon is extradited to the US then he will spend the rest of his life in a US prison."
Lawson added that the possibility of McKinnon having no social contact with friends or family for the rest of his life should be viewed as a "daunting prospect" for him.
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McKinnon's defence solicitors, Kaim Todner, said in a statement the US had subjected McKinnon to "coercive plea bargain tactics specifically in order to intimidate him into surrendering voluntarily to the US and pleading guilty".
The firm added the US authority's conduct amounted to "an abuse of the extradition court's process" and the High Court should intervene to stop an extradition based on "draconian threats".
The court proceedings are due to finish today but it is uncertain when a verdict will be reached.
Comments
There are 10 comments. Join the discussion
1. Gary Davis
He must have known he was messing with serious stuff, so should have expected serius consequences. Whilst I think the US are very one-sided in these kind of dealings, I have some sympathy for the bankers extradited last year (whatever happened to them?) but none for this hacker! Can we send all the spammers too?
2. Iain McCulloch
So he'll miss his family & friends. Are we supposed to care? If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
3. Nicholas Azazel
Let it be hoped that there is judge overseeing this case that is not afraid to stand up to political bullying. Mr McKinnon may be guilty but banging him up in prison serves no purpose to society. This whole case is political as serves to prop up that special one sided relationship we have with the US. Free McKinnon I say.
4. anonymous
If you don't want to do the time, don't do the crime. It's about time there were some consequences for these damned people who cost the rest of us a bloody fortune. Perhaps this should be an example to the rest of the hacker community who are obviously bright enough to do something useful.
5. anonymous
I'm sorry to look rather harsh here, he knew what he was doing. That at some point in time he would get caught and the the USA take a very dim view of hacking.
This isn't Wargames, it real life and real life bites back.
6. anonymous
I'm sorry to look rather harsh here, he knew what he was doing. That at some point in time he would get caught and the the USA take a very dim view of hacking.
This isn't Wargames, it real life and real life bites back.
7. anonymous
To Mr. Azazel...
"Banging him up" DOES serve a purpose to society. Two purposes in fact:
1. It gets him away from the chance to do it again.
2. It sends out a clear message to others, warning them not to do it.
8. Ruth
While I have very little sympathy for spammers, scammers & hackers I am concerned about US tactics in this case. The extradition treaty is one sided with all favours going to the US & not even common justice for the UK. Hope the Judge refuses to bow to the bully boy tactics & refuses the extradition request.
9. Tom Trainer
How could he have known that what would maybe have brought him a sentence of a few months over here would actually result in him being incarcerated in one of the world's most brutal penal systems for the rest of his life? He will have no access to justice in the US, as only the rich have those privileges in the US.
10. Roger Allard
He was well aware that what he was doing was/is illegal and that he was accessing sensitive sites. [what other sites has he violated thyat have not caught him ?] I have no sympathy for him or any other person perpetrating these acts as they cost the industry a great deal of money and loss of credibility. I hope he gets a substantial custodial sentance with no computer/telecoms access.