Last-ditch attempt to halt extradition

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon, who is facing extradition to the US, is due to hear this week whether the House of Lords will grant his application for judicial review. McKinnon, who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, is charged with the unauthorised access of 97 US military computers as well as other crimes related to computer hacking activities. He has not been charged in the UK and is being sought by US prosecutors for trial in the US. If his application is granted, the hearing would take e by the end of February. McKinnon’s solicitor, Karen Todner, of Kaim Todner, says: “I am very hopeful that we will receive leave on the grounds his mental health has not been considered by the Home Secretary.” Louise Delahunty, a partner at Simmons & Simmons, said: “There is an imbalance between the UK and the UK in their extradition arrangements. McKinnon is not the type of individual for whom these procedures were designed.”