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British hacker fights extradition to US
London (AFP) Jan 20, 2009 A Briton accused of hacking into the computer systems of the US military and NASA would be at risk of psychosis or suicide if made to face trial in the United States, a London court heard Tuesday. Although 42-year-old Gary McKinnon has signed a statement acknowledging that his acts violated British laws, his lawyers have requested judges at the High Court permit a judicial review of the decision to extradite him to America, where he faces up to 70 years imprisonment. "The very fact of extradition will endanger his health," his lawyer Edward Fitzgerald argued. Fitzgerald said that because McKinnon suffered from Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, he would be at risk of psychosis or suicide if he was placed far from his family. McKinnon's lawyers also argue that his health could be further endangered by the possibility that he would be detained in a US high-security prison ahead of his trial, which they say violates the European Convention on Human Rights. The unemployed UFO enthusiast lost an appeal at Britain's highest court, the House of Lords, against extradition last July. McKinnon has never denied electronically "breaking in" to the computer networks of a number of US military institutions, but claimed he was motivated by curiosity and was "amazed" at the ease with which he could gain access. His supporters maintain that he is being made a "scapegoat" for shortcomings in security on US military networks and have mounted an Internet campaign for him to be freed, or at least tried in Britain. The US authorities allege he stole 950 passwords and deleted files at the Earle Naval Weapons Station in New Jersey, which is responsible for replenishing munitions and supplies for the Atlantic Fleet. He is also accused of gaining access to 53 US Army computers, including those used for national defence and security; 26 US Navy computers at Earle; 16 NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) computers; and one US Defense Department machine. The deletion led to the US Army's Military District of Washington network of more than 2,000 computers being shut down for 24 hours, with repairs said to have cost around 800,000 dollars (620,000 euros). Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Briton who hacked US military computer not criminal: expert
London (AFP) Jan 15, 2009A British man who hacked into the computer systems of the US military and NASA did so because of his Asperger's Syndrome and not because he is a criminal, a leading expert said Thursday. |
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