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Hacker step closer to extradition | Hacker step closer to extradition |
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British computer hacker Gary McKinnon has lost the latest round of his battle against extradition to the US. | British computer hacker Gary McKinnon has lost the latest round of his battle against extradition to the US. |
The Crown Prosecution Service refused to bring charges against him in the UK. | The Crown Prosecution Service refused to bring charges against him in the UK. |
Mr McKinnon, 42, from Wood Green, north London, faces up to 70 years in prison if found guilty in the US of breaking into military computers. | Mr McKinnon, 42, from Wood Green, north London, faces up to 70 years in prison if found guilty in the US of breaking into military computers. |
His lawyers appealed for him to be prosecuted in the UK on lesser charges but the CPS has rejected the request made last December. | |
Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon has always admitted hacking into the computer systems in 2001-2 - which the US government says caused damage costing $800,000 (£550,000). | |
In total, he hacked into 97 government computers belonging to organisations including the US Navy and Nasa. | |
Mr McKinnon has always said he had no malicious intent but was looking for classified documents on UFOs which he believed the US authorities had suppressed. | |
Despite taking his appeal to the House of Lords last year, he lost a six-year legal battle to avoid extradition. | Despite taking his appeal to the House of Lords last year, he lost a six-year legal battle to avoid extradition. |
The European Court of Human Rights also declined to back Mr McKinnon's case against extradition. | The European Court of Human Rights also declined to back Mr McKinnon's case against extradition. |
Last August, he was diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome and his lawyers said Mr McKinnon was at risk of suicide if he were extradited. |