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British prosecution could save hacker from extradition to US

Lt-DavidW   on 14 January 2009 - 11:16 · 5 comments & 1307 views

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Gary McKinnon, the computer hacker facing extradition to the US for hacking into the Pentagon and Nasa systems, could now be prosecuted in Britain. The Crown Prosecution Service is considering a request from McKinnon's lawyers in which they have said their client would plead guilty to an offence under the Misuse of Computers Act. If McKinnon were to be prosecuted and punished in Britain, it would make any extradition to the US unlikely. McKinnon, 42, who has Asperger's syndrome, has resisted attempts to extradite him to the US on the grounds that the offence was committed in the UK.

McKinnon's lawyer, Karen Todner, has written to the director of public prosecutions, the recently appointed Keir Starmer QC, stating that McKinnon acknowledged his guilt. With clear evidence of an offence being committed, she said, the DPP could now initiate proceedings against McKinnon in Britain. The CPS also confirmed that the matter was under consideration. The action is the latest in the long-running attempt to halt the extradition of McKinnon, who fears for his safety and his chances of a fair trial in the US.

News source: Guardian

Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 5 additional comments
(1 reply) #1 macrosslover on 15 Jan 2009 - 18:36
I'm sorry I have no sympathy. If you do the crime and get caught, be willing to take your punishment like a man.
#1.1 undu on 17 Jan 2009 - 23:41
macrosslover said,
I'm sorry I have no sympathy. If you do the crime and get caught, be willing to take your punishment like a man.
First look up 'Asperger's sindrome', then read other articles about this story.

Who should be punished is the admin of the NASA computers for leaving them unprotected, not the autist.
#2 Red Dragon on 15 Jan 2009 - 19:59
I despise his defense.
(1 reply) #3 kiwi89 on 15 Jan 2009 - 20:43
He "hacked" some unprotected computers, looked around for evidence of UFOs and ETs and the US wants to be the people to put him on trial.... when he commited these crimes in the UK. He isnt a US citizen so they shouldnt extradite him.
This should have been over long ago simply because he sould have been tried in the UK where he belongs.
#3.1 22b0rn0t2b on 16 Jan 2009 - 09:07
If you read about his 'hacking', he will not come across a criminal hacker of today.. US wants to to punish him for other reasons

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