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Hacker renews extradition fight Hacker renews extradition fight
(about 4 hours later)
A British hacker who broke into the computer systems of Nasa and the US Navy is renewing his legal fight against extradition.A British hacker who broke into the computer systems of Nasa and the US Navy is renewing his legal fight against extradition.
Gary McKinnon's lawyers will tell the High Court he is at risk of psychosis or suicide if removed to the US.Gary McKinnon's lawyers will tell the High Court he is at risk of psychosis or suicide if removed to the US.
He has Asperger's Syndrome and claims he was looking for details of UFOs.He has Asperger's Syndrome and claims he was looking for details of UFOs.
Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon, 42, from Wood Green, north London, faces up to 70 years in prison if found guilty in the US courts.Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon, 42, from Wood Green, north London, faces up to 70 years in prison if found guilty in the US courts.
Mr McKinnon, who was arrested by British police in 2002, has already appealed unsuccessfully to the House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights to avoid extradition.Mr McKinnon, who was arrested by British police in 2002, has already appealed unsuccessfully to the House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights to avoid extradition.
'Naivety' Lord Justice Stanley Burnton and Mr Justice Wilkie, at the High Court in London, will be asked to rule on whether the health risk is too great to allow his removal.
Later 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. I'm not, you know, a master hacker. I didn't write my own programmes or anything Gary McKinnon
Mr McKinnon's Asperger's was not taken into consideration when the home secretary gave the go-ahead for extradition last October.
Mr McKinnon hacked into 97 government computers belonging to organisations including the US Navy and Nasa during 2001 and 2002.Mr McKinnon hacked into 97 government computers belonging to organisations including the US Navy and Nasa 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.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.
Mr McKinnon's supporters say he simply acted through "naivety". Mr McKinnon told the BBC that he recognises that he committed a crime and said: "I am sorry for that."
But he disputes the amount of damage the US alleges he caused to its computer systems and says he did not employ any complicated techniques.
He said: "I'm not, you know, a master hacker. I didn't write my own programmes or anything. I used commercially off-the-shelf available software."
He said the last seven years since his arrest have taken a considerable toll on him, both personally and financially, as he is unable to work in IT.
The evidence we have does not come near to reflecting the criminality that is alleged by the American authorities CPS organised crime division
But he said the worst impact has been psychological.
"You're in bits every day. I mean, I wake up feeling like someone's stamping on my chest every morning."
His solicitor Karen Todner said being sent to the US would be very difficult for Mr McKinnon.
She said: "One of the problems with Asperger's is that you need to have your family and support network around you and Gary would be completely denied that."
She added: "He's absolutely terrified about going to America."
In February the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) turned down a request from his lawyers for Mr McKinnon to be prosecuted in the UK on lesser charges.
Speaking at the time, the head of the CPS organised crime division, Alison Saunders, said the best place for the case to be heard was the US.
She said: "The evidence we have does not come near to reflecting the criminality that is alleged by the American authorities.
"These were not random experiments in computer hacking, but a deliberate effort to breach US defence systems at a critical time which caused well-documented damage."