// Home / News / Security

McKinnon loses final UK extradition bid

1 of 3

By Barry Collins

Posted on 9 Oct 2009 at 13:32

Gary McKinnon has been denied permission to appeal to the UK's Supreme Court against his proposed extradition to the US.

The British hacker is facing up to 60 years inside a US prison if found guilty of hacking into NASA computers, an offence the Asperger's Syndrome sufferer has already admitted.

The High Court today ruled that the case was not of "general public importance" to warrant an appeal in the highest court in the land.

McKinnon and his legal team have made numerous attempts to overturn the extradition, including direct appeals to successive Home Secretaries and a High Court appeal. The Director of Public Prosecutions has also denied his wish to be tried in the UK.

McKinnon's final hope of avoiding extradition may be an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

The 43-year-old's plight has won sympathy from high-profile supporters such as London Mayor Boris Johnson, pop star Sting and The Daily Mail.

His legal team have argued that extraditing the hacker could lead to him committing suicide in prison.

Subscribe to PC Pro magazine. We'll give you 3 issues for £1 plus a free gift - click here

From around the web

User comments

The thought of spending time in any prison is not a pleasant one, particularly if its one in America - they were they are depicted in films might lead us to believe that they are somewhat more violent than our own. However way you look at it - this guy is most likely gonna kill himself - unless he is able to use his skills and teach other prisoners the art of computing - if he gets put in one of those nice high tech centers.

The High court says this is not of general public importance, I thought that was why a petition with thousands of signatures was for - what did nobody sign - or there were not enough people/signatures to convince them that the yanks were/are looking for a patsy?

Still I hope the EU court will save his hide and allow him serve his time closer to home, or allow the courts to prosecute him here and not there.

By nicomo on 9 Oct 2009

If it were a US hacker being accused in the UK what would happen?

Would the US extradite the hacker Albert Gonzalez to the UK to face credit card fraud charges?

No, I don't think so either.

"Special relationship" = "You give us what we want and don't expect anything in return".

By cheysuli on 9 Oct 2009

Is it just me...

..or does the drawing in picture no. 2 look like the late Michael Jackson watching the X-Files?

As for special relationship, to paraphrase Lord Heseltine on Question Time a couple of weeks ago 'Special relationship my a***'

By jamesyld on 9 Oct 2009

Give the guy a job

He's clearly talented - why not put his skills to better use? Give him a job in computer espionage or security. Be a damn shame to let the Yanks get hold of him and lock him up...

By Mattallyc on 9 Oct 2009

No special relationship

Quite agree with "Special relationship" = "You give us what we want and don't expect anything in return".

Whatever the rights and wrongs (and its funny that Aspergers popped up... anyone remember Ernest Guinness (sp?)) we've given up our sovereignty...

By MikeHellier on 11 Oct 2009

Leave a comment

You need to Login or Register to comment.