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Clock ticking for hacker McKinnon Clock ticking for hacker McKinnon
(about 3 hours later)
By Simon Hancock BBC News 42 year-old McKinnon at the press conference given by his legal team.By Simon Hancock BBC News 42 year-old McKinnon at the press conference given by his legal team.
Computer hacker Gary McKinnon should know within four weeks whether his attempts to fight extradition to the US have any chance of success.Computer hacker Gary McKinnon should know within four weeks whether his attempts to fight extradition to the US have any chance of success.
Mr McKinnon, his supporters and advisers today held a news conference in London at which they repeated their call for a UK trial rather than extradition. Mr McKinnon was joined by his supporters and advisers in London to repeat their call for a UK trial rather than extradition.
Mr McKinnon admits hacking into US government computer systems in 2001 and 2002 in the search for information about UFOs, which he believed to have been suppressed by the US authorities. He admits hacking into US government computer systems in 2001 and 2002 in the search for information about UFOs, which he believed to have been suppressed by the US authorities.
The hacks took place in the context of the months following September 11 and the US treated his activities as cyber-terrorism. If he were to be extradited he faces a possible 70 years in maximum security jail. The US treated his activities as cyber-terrorism. If he were to be extradited he faces a possible 70 years in a maximum security jail.
Inside the fires of hell are burning. Gary McKinnonInside the fires of hell are burning. Gary McKinnon
His legal team has written to the Crown Prosecution Service to request that he is tried in the UK instead. An answer is promised within four weeks. His legal team has written to the Crown Prosecution Service to request he be tried in the UK instead. An answer is promised within four weeks.
Asperger's SyndromeAsperger's Syndrome
Mr McKinnon has recently been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and at the conference autism expert Professor Simon Baron-Cohen said that his crime "should be treated as the activity of somebody with a disability rather than a criminal activity". Mr McKinnon has recently been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. Sufferers often struggle to communicate with other people and can develop obsessive interests..
At a specially-called news conference, autism expert Professor Simon Baron-Cohen said Mr McKinnon's crime "should be treated as the activity of somebody with a disability rather than a criminal activity".
It displayed the signs of Asperger's Syndrome, such as an obsession with finding out the truth, he said.It displayed the signs of Asperger's Syndrome, such as an obsession with finding out the truth, he said.
Prof Baron-Cohen also said that for someone with Asperger's Syndrome, prison life would be intolerable and that it could even deepen the condition. "It can bring a sort of tunnel vision so that in their pursuit of the truth they are blind to the potential social consequences for them or for other people," he said.
His girlfriend of four years, Lucy Clarke, told the BBC he had been depressed and that "he would be suicidal" if extradited. He also said for someone with Asperger's Syndrome, prison life would be intolerable and it could even deepen the condition.
Mr McKinnon's girlfriend of four years, Lucy Clarke, told the BBC he had been depressed and "he would be suicidal" if extradited.
'Typical bloke''Typical bloke'
As the assembled lawyers and supporters - among them his MP David Burrowes - presented their arguments against extradition, Mr McKinnon calmly gazed into space, occasionally clarifying points he felt important. As the assembled lawyers and supporters - among them his MP David Burrowes - presented their arguments, Mr McKinnon calmly gazed into space, occasionally clarifying points he felt important.
His serene outlook was a front. "I'm doing that typical bloke thing and pretending it's not happening," he told the BBC afterwards. "I'm doing that typical bloke thing and pretending it's not happening," he told the BBC afterwards.
"I'm on Beta blockers and very stressed. I'm cold and calm on the outside, but inside the fires of hell are burning," he said."I'm on Beta blockers and very stressed. I'm cold and calm on the outside, but inside the fires of hell are burning," he said.
On 20 January, his legal team had been due to present an oral case for permission to apply for a judicial review on his extradition, partly on the basis the diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome had not yet been made at the time his extradition was granted.On 20 January, his legal team had been due to present an oral case for permission to apply for a judicial review on his extradition, partly on the basis the diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome had not yet been made at the time his extradition was granted.
With the news the Crown Prosecution Service is to deliver a decision over a UK trial within four weeks, his lawyers will now go to the court on Friday to ask that their oral hearing be delayed until that outcome is known.With the news the Crown Prosecution Service is to deliver a decision over a UK trial within four weeks, his lawyers will now go to the court on Friday to ask that their oral hearing be delayed until that outcome is known.