Hacker in last-ditch bid to dodge US extradition

Published: 10:47 AM June 9, 2009 Updated: 1:26 PM October 14, 2020

Robyn Rosen CROUCH End computer hacker, Gary McKinnon s seven-year fight to prevent his extradition will end this week. Mr McKinnon, 43 and a former Highgate Wood pupil, has been awaiting extradition after being accused of causing $700,000 worth of damag

Robyn Rosen

CROUCH End computer hacker, Gary McKinnon's seven-year fight to prevent his extradition will end this week.

Mr McKinnon, 43 and a former Highgate Wood pupil, has been awaiting extradition after being accused of causing $700,000 worth of damage when he allegedly hacked into US security systems from his Hillfield Avenue home in 2002.

In August 2008, he lost his appeal at the European Court of Human Rights, the highest court in the land, and the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, ordered his extradition.

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But in January this year, he won the chance to appeal Ms Smith's decision and today (Wednesday) he will be given one last chance to prevent his extradition during a judicial review at the High Court.

His lawyers will argue that his late diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome in August last year was not considered in the original trials and his extradition could lead to his mental health deteriorating and a breach of human rights.