British Hacker refused extradition appeal

[Flagg]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8298634.stm

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon has been refused permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court against his extradition to the US.

The High Court ruled the case was not of "general public importance" to go to the UK's highest court.

Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon, 43, of Wood Green, London, is accused of breaking into the US's military computer system.

Mr Mickinnon, who has Asperger's syndrome, insists he was just seeking evidence of UFOs.

In July he lost a High Court bid to avoid extradition.

The Home Office said no further comment would be made while Mr McKinnon continued to pursue the legal avenues available to him.

A spokesman said: "We note today's judgment. The case remains before the courts. Therefore, we do not propose to comment further at this stage."

'Disastrous consequences'

Mr McKinnon faces 60 years in prison if convicted in the US.

His lawyers have said they may now take the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

They argue that extradition of their client would have "disastrous consequences" for his health, including possible psychosis and suicide.

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 - which would have allowed him to avoid extradition.

Giving the court's decision on Friday, Lord Justice Stanley Burnton, who heard Mr McKinnon's latest appeal earlier this year with Mr Justice Wilkie, said extradition was "a lawful and proportionate response" to his alleged offending.

There was no real prospect of him succeeding with his claim under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights that extradition would breach his right to a private and family life.

Nor did the court think, on the evidence it had seen, that he had an arguable case that extradition to the US would result in a breach of his Article 3 right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment.

'Devoid of humanity'

Reacting after the latest ruling, his mother Janis Sharp said no other country would offer its citizens to the US so readily "as sacrificial lambs" just to safeguard the special political relationship.

She said: "To use my desperately vulnerable son in this way is despicable, immoral and devoid of humanity."


It is long past time that this travesty of justice was put right
David Davis MP

Mr McKinnon's solicitor, Karen Todner, said the effect the proceedings and impending extradition were having on her client were "devastating".

"Why is our government so inhumane as to allow this to happen to someone, particularly someone with Aspergers, a form of autism?" she said.

"This is the wholesale destruction and bullying of a small individual by the United States and now our own government.

"Our extradition treaty with the US is unfair and prejudicial to UK citizens and should be repealed or amended immediately."

Sabina Frediani, campaigns co-ordinator for Liberty, which supported Mr McKinnon's case, said: "Never were justice and the law so out of sync as in the case of Britain's rotten extradition arrangements."

The Tories also criticised the UK's extradition arrangements with the US.

Backbench MP David Davis said: "The reason this decision has been arrived at is because the British government created a set of laws and agreements which, masquerading as anti-terror laws, actually disadvantaged a whole range of British citizens.

"This is why the courts find themselves having to dispatch this young man to America, when he should face a proper trial in British courts. It is long past time that this travesty of justice was put right."

Opinions? I deeply sympathise with the mother. I mean this guy has Aspergers. He is clearly no threat to the security of America. Yes he hacked into Military Computers, but jesus...that should say more about American Computer defense systems more than anything else. I think it's appalling that our Government is doing fvck all to protect this man, he could face 60 years in an american prison, and given his age and condition, means he'll die in an American prison. The family are taking this to the European Court of Human Rights. I mean what does that say about the UK? When are we going to grow some ****ing balls and stop sucking American cock and saying yes to them all the time? What does this say about the security of peoples rights in the UK? I mean its not like he started guiding missles at anyone. The guy has Aspergers. People are missing the bigger picture here. A man with Aspergers hacked into US military systems, it could easily have been a terrorist cell and mericifly it wasn't. He should be applauded for highlighting a massive glaring error in Modern Day computer systems. And instead he's to be punished for this.

[MuscleScience]

You guys are losing your civil rights left and right. I dont know why you all put up with it.

[Flagg]

You guys are losing your civil rights left and right. I dont know why you all put up with it.

Well the American military may like Gordon Brown for this, but the British public wont. Labour couldn't possibly **** themselves over any worse then they have, but they've managed to do it again. Even the Conservatives, who im no fan of, have claimed it's totally unacceptable. I really hope the European High Court manages to do something about this because this is appalling.

It's funny, all over the West, civil rights and liberties are being lost. In different countries it's always over different things, but it leads to the same thing. Wow, I didn't realise how much of a Security risk to the countries of the US and the UK a man with Aspergers was..

In the mean time, im sure some paedophile will be caught and sentenced this week to 5 years prison.

[countrybhoy]

Well the American military may like Gordon Brown for this, but the British public wont. Labour couldn't possibly **** themselves over any worse then they have, but they've managed to do it again. Even the Conservatives, who im no fan of, have claimed it's totally unacceptable. I really hope the European High Court manages to do something about this because this is appalling.

It's funny, all over the West, civil rights and liberties are being lost. In different countries it's always over different things, but it leads to the same thing. Wow, I didn't realise how much of a Security risk to the countries of the US and the UK a man with Aspergers was..

In the mean time, im sure some paedophile will be caught and sentenced this week to 5 years prison.

5 weeks more like .

[*El Diablo*]

... same as u stated above, if a man can hack into the US Govmt Database WTF does it say about the American security... ????
Its F*cking rubbish, and even though i think that the UK is the greatest country on this planet and now for them to obey to the US and let him be extradited to US prison is just Fvking lame. Actually i think that the English and US government can learn alot from someone with Aspergers. I think people that has Autism is alot more intellegent than we think... IMO

[Mooseman33]

the guy hacked into the US military computers.
he should be held accountable.
he should be punished, however he is not mentally fit to stand trial.

im torn on a punishment but there should be one.
i dont think jail, but he should not be allowed to have a computer or internet ever again.

this is tough due to his condition, did he know he did wrong?

how bad is his condition, thats very important

[Flagg]

the guy hacked into the US military computers.
he should be held accountable.
he should be punished, however he is not mentally fit to stand trial.

im torn on a punishment but there should be one.
i dont think jail, but he should not be allowed to have a computer or internet ever again.

I agree he should be punished, but don't you think extradition to America for 60 years (the rest of his life) is slightly over the top? Again, a man with Aspergers hacked into American Military Systems...that says a lot for their systems that someone of that mental capacity could do that. What if this was a Terrorist Cell? This should be a wake up call, not a witch hunt.

The punishment is way over the top, the judicial defence for this man pitiful and this should serve as a reminder of what could happen to any of us. When your own country cannot, scratch that...WILL NOT protect you, what hope has anyone got?

As for his condition, well he says he was only looking to see if there was anything about UFO's, which hillariously, he says there was. That kinda says it all really..

[Mooseman33]

I agree he should be punished, but don't you think extradition to America for 60 years (the rest of his life) is slightly over the top? Again, a man with Aspergers hacked into American Military Systems...that says a lot for their systems that someone of that mental capacity could do that. What if this was a Terrorist Cell? This should be a wake up call, not a witch hunt.

The punishment is way over the top, the judicial defence for this man pitiful and this should serve as a reminder of what could happen to any of us. When your own country cannot, scratch that...WILL NOT protect you, what hope has anyone got?

As for his condition, well he says he was only looking to see if there was anything about UFO's, which hillariously, he says there was. That kinda says it all really..

yes 60 years in prison is to much.
but in america, that would equal like 1 year. i believe that is the maximum.
our court system is the worst.

i dont htink its any kind of witch hunt, the only guy they were looking for they got, he admitted it, he is guilty. no witchhunt.

by his coments, he knew he was doing wrong, therefore he needs to face it. but i agree, bringing him to amercia is crazy, let him serve his punishment there, and i have no clue what it should be.

[Cloe85]

My concern here is what else did he find and who might he tell??? This has now made him a target IMO. He may not realize how important it is to not say anything or just might not understand period. Anyones call on what will and wont be said and in what detail...

Im sure the military or hope that they have been able to track what exactly he was exposed to/hummm...

I also think the US needs to seriously work on security.