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| Gary McKinnon extradition: Theresa May to rule on hacker | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Home Secretary Theresa May is due to announce whether computer hacker Gary McKinnon will be extradited to the US. | Home Secretary Theresa May is due to announce whether computer hacker Gary McKinnon will be extradited to the US. |
| Mr McKinnon, who admits accessing US government computers but claims he was looking for evidence of UFOs, has been fighting extradition since 2006. | Mr McKinnon, who admits accessing US government computers but claims he was looking for evidence of UFOs, has been fighting extradition since 2006. |
| The 46-year-old, who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, could face 60 years in jail if convicted in the US. | The 46-year-old, who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, could face 60 years in jail if convicted in the US. |
| Meanwhile, reports suggest that Mrs May will also announce changes to Britain's extradition arrangements with the US. | Meanwhile, reports suggest that Mrs May will also announce changes to Britain's extradition arrangements with the US. |
| Mr McKinnon's case has been highlighted by critics who say it is too easy for the US to demand the handover of UK citizens. | Mr McKinnon's case has been highlighted by critics who say it is too easy for the US to demand the handover of UK citizens. |
| David Cameron raised the issue with President Barack Obama during a meeting at the White House in March and said he would like to see a review. | David Cameron raised the issue with President Barack Obama during a meeting at the White House in March and said he would like to see a review. |
| Court decision | |
| The Daily Mail reports the home secretary is planning to introduce a measure that would make it more likely UK citizens would be tried in the UK - if that is where their alleged crimes took place. | The Daily Mail reports the home secretary is planning to introduce a measure that would make it more likely UK citizens would be tried in the UK - if that is where their alleged crimes took place. |
| The newspaper says the introduction of the so-called forum bar means a court hearing would have to be held to decide where a person should stand trial. | The newspaper says the introduction of the so-called forum bar means a court hearing would have to be held to decide where a person should stand trial. |
| It says Mrs May will make the announcement when she addresses the Commons to give her ruling on Mr McKinnon, from Wood Green, north London. | It says Mrs May will make the announcement when she addresses the Commons to give her ruling on Mr McKinnon, from Wood Green, north London. |
| Mr McKinnon's lawyer Karen Todner said she had been calling for such a move for years. | Mr McKinnon's lawyer Karen Todner said she had been calling for such a move for years. |
| She told the BBC: "It would be absolutely fantastic if she does bring that in - but she must combine it with not sending Gary." | She told the BBC: "It would be absolutely fantastic if she does bring that in - but she must combine it with not sending Gary." |
| BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman said this would be "seismic" for the UK's extradition arrangements with the US. | |
| He said the measure is already part of an amendment to the Extradition Act but has never been given legislative force - it would require the approval of both Houses of Parliament. | |
| Psychiatrist assessment | Psychiatrist assessment |
| US authorities have described the Glasgow-born hacker's actions as the "biggest military computer hack of all time" and have demanded he face justice in America. | US authorities have described the Glasgow-born hacker's actions as the "biggest military computer hack of all time" and have demanded he face justice in America. |
| They insisted his hacking was "intentional and calculated to influence and affect the US government by intimidation and coercion". | They insisted his hacking was "intentional and calculated to influence and affect the US government by intimidation and coercion". |
| The Americans said his actions caused $800,000 (£487,000) worth of damage to military computer systems. | The Americans said his actions caused $800,000 (£487,000) worth of damage to military computer systems. |
| Mr McKinnon has previously lost appeals in the High Court and the House of Lords against his extradition, but two years ago a High Court judge ruled Mr McKinnon would be a suicide risk if sent away. | Mr McKinnon has previously lost appeals in the High Court and the House of Lords against his extradition, but two years ago a High Court judge ruled Mr McKinnon would be a suicide risk if sent away. |
| Earlier this year Mrs May put the decision on hold to allow Home Office appointed psychiatrists to conduct an assessment. | Earlier this year Mrs May put the decision on hold to allow Home Office appointed psychiatrists to conduct an assessment. |
| They concluded that Mr McKinnon would be likely to take his own life if he was sent to face trial in the US. | They concluded that Mr McKinnon would be likely to take his own life if he was sent to face trial in the US. |
| 'Zombified life' | 'Zombified life' |
| Our correspondent said the home secretary could only halt the extradition on human rights grounds - and he believed this latest report provided her with a basis to do that. | |
| If Mrs May allows the extradition to go ahead, lawyers for Mr McKinnon are expected to apply for a judicial review to challenge the decision. | If Mrs May allows the extradition to go ahead, lawyers for Mr McKinnon are expected to apply for a judicial review to challenge the decision. |
| A provisional hearing date has been set in the High Court for 28 and 29 November. | A provisional hearing date has been set in the High Court for 28 and 29 November. |
| Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp told the BBC her son had lived a "zombified life" for the past decade, which has "destroyed him". | Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp told the BBC her son had lived a "zombified life" for the past decade, which has "destroyed him". |
| Ms Sharp is calling for him to be tried in the UK, and believes extradition powers would be used inappropriately if he was forced to travel to the US. | Ms Sharp is calling for him to be tried in the UK, and believes extradition powers would be used inappropriately if he was forced to travel to the US. |
| "This was supposed to be for terrorists this treaty - if you were in a country and you committed a heinous crime and you fled - it wasn't meant for this kind of thing." | "This was supposed to be for terrorists this treaty - if you were in a country and you committed a heinous crime and you fled - it wasn't meant for this kind of thing." |
| She added Mr McKinnon's Asperger's Syndrome - a form of autism - means he believes he will be put to death if he is extradited. | She added Mr McKinnon's Asperger's Syndrome - a form of autism - means he believes he will be put to death if he is extradited. |
| Shami Chakrabarti, director of the civil rights group Liberty, has joined calls urging Mrs May to "show compassion and common sense" over the extradition. | Shami Chakrabarti, director of the civil rights group Liberty, has joined calls urging Mrs May to "show compassion and common sense" over the extradition. |
| She added: "Extradition should stop fugitives escaping justice, not allow British citizens to be yanked around the world on the basis of what they are alleged to have done here at home". | She added: "Extradition should stop fugitives escaping justice, not allow British citizens to be yanked around the world on the basis of what they are alleged to have done here at home". |