NASA hacker renews extradition fight

9 Jun 2009

British hacker Gary McKinnon who could face up to 70 years in a US prison after breaking into Nasa's computer systems is renewing his legal fight against extradition.

McKinnon has Asperger's Syndrome and claims he was looking for details of UFOs.

Gary McKinnon's lawyers are to tell the High Court he is at risk of psychosis or suicide if removed to the US.

Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon, 42 was arrested by British police in 2002 andhas already appealed unsuccessfully to the House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights to avoid extradition.

Mr McKinnon's supporters say he simply acted through "naivety".

Lord Justice Stanley Burnton and Mr Justice Wilkie, sitting in London, will be asked to rule on whether the health risk is too great to allow his removal.

Mr McKinnon's Asperger's was not taken into consideration when the home secretary gave the go-ahead for extradition last October.

McKinnon hacked into 97 government computers during 2001 and 2002.

The US government says this caused damage costing $800,000 (£550,000) at a time of heightened security in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks.

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