This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8381961.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Computer hacker 'facing US trial' Computer hacker 'facing US trial'
(10 minutes later)
Computer hacker Gary McKinnon faces being tried in the US after requests to block his extradition were refused, the Home Office has confirmed.Computer hacker Gary McKinnon faces being tried in the US after requests to block his extradition were refused, the Home Office has confirmed.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson told Mr McKinnon's family he could not block the move on medical grounds.Home Secretary Alan Johnson told Mr McKinnon's family he could not block the move on medical grounds.
Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon, 43, who has Asperger's syndrome, is accused of breaking into US military computers. He says he was seeking UFO evidence.Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon, 43, who has Asperger's syndrome, is accused of breaking into US military computers. He says he was seeking UFO evidence.
Now of Wood Green, north London, he faces 60 years in prison if convicted.Now of Wood Green, north London, he faces 60 years in prison if convicted.
Mr Johnson said he had carefully considered the representations but had concluded that sending Mr McKinnon to the US would not breach his human rights.Mr Johnson said he had carefully considered the representations but had concluded that sending Mr McKinnon to the US would not breach his human rights.
As such, he had no discretion to block the extradition.As such, he had no discretion to block the extradition.
It's disgusting - Gary has been in a heightened state of terror for almost eight years. Janis Sharp, Mr McKinnon's mother
"Due to legitimate concerns over Mr McKinnon's health, we have sought and received assurances from the United States authorities that his needs will be met," he said."Due to legitimate concerns over Mr McKinnon's health, we have sought and received assurances from the United States authorities that his needs will be met," he said.
Mr McKinnon admits hacking into 97 US government computers, including Nasa's and Pentagon's, during 2001 and 2002.Mr McKinnon admits hacking into 97 US government computers, including Nasa's and Pentagon's, during 2001 and 2002.
He has told the BBC he was on a "moral crusade" to prove US intelligence had found an alien craft run on clean fuel.He has told the BBC he was on a "moral crusade" to prove US intelligence had found an alien craft run on clean fuel.
His mother Janis Sharp told the BBC she was "devastated" by the news.
"It's a disgusting decision. Gary has been in a heightened state of terror for almost eight years. To allow this to happen to a human being who's suicidal through Asperger's... is wrong."
She said she was not comforted by the home secretary's advice that her son would not be held in a "supermax" jail, which hold the highest-security prisoners.
Judicial review
Their solicitor Karen Todner said they had seven days to put a case for judicial review and that she hoped that would be heard before Christmas.
If that failed, they would take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, she added.
Mr McKinnon has been the focus of a campaign to prevent his extradition. Earlier this month, the Commons' Home Affairs Committee said the move should be halted owing to his "precarious state of mental health".Mr McKinnon has been the focus of a campaign to prevent his extradition. Earlier this month, the Commons' Home Affairs Committee said the move should be halted owing to his "precarious state of mental health".
They concluded there was a "serious lack of equality" in the way the extradition treaty deals with UK citizens compared with US citizens.They concluded there was a "serious lack of equality" in the way the extradition treaty deals with UK citizens compared with US citizens.