Computer Hacker Gary McKinnon faces extradition.

News 09 10 2009: Gary McKinnon has been refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court against extradition to the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />US on charges of breaking into the Pentagon's computer systems. His Mother Ms Sharp said: "When we vote someone in to protect our rights, we don't expect this to happen. "We are the only country in the world that will extradite our own people with no evidence whatsoever," she told the meeting. Gary McKinnon sufferes from Asperger's Syndrome.
 
It’s not every day that I would agree with the views of London Mayor Boris Johnson however I must agree with his remark that if the allegations against Mr McKinnon were true” “The Americans shouldn’t be threatening him with jail. They should be offering him consultancy.” ( see News 03 08 2009 below ). What’s dear Mr Cameron to say on such matters given that he’s all set to oust Mr Brown in being a true leader representative of the People of the Nation in fighting for their Rights against injustice?.
 
 
Extradition Act 2003: David Blunkett (Home Secretary) signed Extradition Treaty between the UK and the USA. This removed a requirement for the US to provide evidence when requesting the extradition of UK citizens while maintaining that the US must have evidence in extraditing its citizens to the UK in satisfying the US constitution’s ‘probable cause’. The treaty was signed-off in March but only released to Parliament in May and without a word from the Prime Minister!. All of this meant that the UK-US Extradition Treaty was signed and ratified with no prior debate and no parliamentary vote. The Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed the extradition arrangements with America. In 2006, we tabled a bill to restore the need for prime facie evidence to be provided by US authorities when requesting extradition and later that year, we supported amendments to the Police and Justice Bill that would suspend our implementation of the Treaty.
 
Asperger's Syndrome: named after the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger whom in 1944 described children in his practice who lacked nonverbal communication skills, demonstrated limited empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy. Characteristics: A pervasive developmental disorder distinguished by a pattern of symptoms rather than a single symptom. It is characterized by qualitative impairment in social interaction, by stereotyped and restricted patterns of behavior, activities and interests. Intense preoccupation with a narrow subject.Pervasive developmental disorder: Any of several disorders, such as autism and Asperger's syndrome, characterized by severe deficits in many areas of development, including social interaction and communication.

 
OLD News16 06 2008 Gary McKinnon fights extradition to US

Gary McKinnon told the highest court in the land that he was the victim of an oppressive prosecution by US authorities who had abused British law by trying to force him into a plea bargain. Mr McKinnon is accused of causing £475,000 worth of damage by gaining access to 97 computer systems belonging to the Pentagon, Nasa and the US military. His lawyer David Pannick QC told five Law Lords that it would be an abuse of extradition proceedings to send Mr McKinnon to the US because of the way US authorities had behaved. Mr McKinnon had been warned by the US that, unless he agreed to plead guilty, he faced a life sentence rather than a couple of years in jail, Mr Pannick said.The threats from US authorities also included one from New Jersey prosecutors that Mr McKinnon "would fry", said Mr Pannick. If Mr McKinnon refused a plea bargain then the matter could be treated as a terrorism case which could result in a 60-year sentence in a US maximum security prison if he was found guilty, the Law Lords were told. He was arrested in 2002 but never charged in the UK. Clare Montgomery QC, representing the Home Secretary, is arguing that no threats were made against Mr McKinnon by the US authorities and the extradition should therefore go ahead.

 03 08 2009 Boris hits out at Home Secretary. London Mayor Boris Johnson has attacked the Home Secretary for failing to intervene to prevent the extradition of computer hacker Gary McKinnon to the US. Home Secretary Alan Johnson came under fire after he said that Mr McKinnon was accused of hacking into computers "shortly after the attacks of 9/11 which killed nearly 3,000 US citizens". His supporters say his only crime is being a "UFO eccentric" who searched for evidence of extra-terrestrials. Mr McKinnon, who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, is wanted for trial on charges of hacking into US military networks. Boris Johnson said if the allegations against Mr McKinnon were true: "The Americans shouldn't be threatening him with jail. They should be offering him consultancy."

 

09 09 2009 Johnson urged to block extradition

Home Secretary Alan Johnson is due to face calls from three senior MPs not to extradite computer hacker Gary McKinnon. Former Labour minister Michael Meacher, ex-shadow home secretary David Davis and Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne will meet Mr Johnson at the Home Office. Mr Meacher, who sought the meeting, said: "Not only has the Home Secretary got the power but he has the duty to intervene in an extradition case. "There is no reason why he cannot face charges in the UK for an act which took place in the UK."