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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Gary McKinnon timeline: events leading up to extradition decision | Gary McKinnon timeline: events leading up to extradition decision |
| (6 months later) | |
| British computer hacker Gary McKinnon has been living under the threat of extradition and prosecution in the US for more than 10 years. | British computer hacker Gary McKinnon has been living under the threat of extradition and prosecution in the US for more than 10 years. |
| Here is a summary of the key events in his case: | Here is a summary of the key events in his case: |
| 2001-2002 | 2001-2002 |
| Between 1 February 2001 and 19 March 2002, the Glasgow-born computer expert allegedly hacks into 97 US government computers from his home in north London. He is accused of leaving 300 computers at US Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey unusable immediately after the September 11 2001 terror attacks on America. US prosecutors also allege he deleted files that shut down the US army's military district of Washington DC network of more than 2,000 computers for 24 hours. McKinnon later denies causing any damage and says he was only looking for files that would prove the existence of UFOs. | Between 1 February 2001 and 19 March 2002, the Glasgow-born computer expert allegedly hacks into 97 US government computers from his home in north London. He is accused of leaving 300 computers at US Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey unusable immediately after the September 11 2001 terror attacks on America. US prosecutors also allege he deleted files that shut down the US army's military district of Washington DC network of more than 2,000 computers for 24 hours. McKinnon later denies causing any damage and says he was only looking for files that would prove the existence of UFOs. |
| 2002 | 2002 |
| Between 19 March and 8 August, McKinnon is interviewed about his hacking by the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit at the request of the US government. On 31 October, the district court of New Jersey in the US issues a warrant for his arrest before Paul McNulty, the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, says on 12 November: "Mr McKinnon is charged with the biggest military computer hack of all time." | Between 19 March and 8 August, McKinnon is interviewed about his hacking by the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit at the request of the US government. On 31 October, the district court of New Jersey in the US issues a warrant for his arrest before Paul McNulty, the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, says on 12 November: "Mr McKinnon is charged with the biggest military computer hack of all time." |
| 2004 | 2004 |
| The US district court of the eastern district of Virginia issues another warrant for McKinnon's arrest on 12 August and, on 7 October, the US government files a request for his extradition. | The US district court of the eastern district of Virginia issues another warrant for McKinnon's arrest on 12 August and, on 7 October, the US government files a request for his extradition. |
| 2005 | 2005 |
| On 31 March, a warrant for McKinnon's arrest is issued by Bow Street magistrates' court and officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit arrest him at his north London home on 7 June. | On 31 March, a warrant for McKinnon's arrest is issued by Bow Street magistrates' court and officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit arrest him at his north London home on 7 June. |
| 2006 | 2006 |
| Then-home secretary John Reid signs an order on 4 July for McKinnon to be extradited to the US. | Then-home secretary John Reid signs an order on 4 July for McKinnon to be extradited to the US. |
| 2007 | 2007 |
| McKinnon loses an attempt to appeal against his extradition at the high court on 3 April. | McKinnon loses an attempt to appeal against his extradition at the high court on 3 April. |
| 2008 | 2008 |
| The House of Lords, then Britain's highest court, dismisses a further appeal bid by the computer expert on 30 July and McKinnon – who is diagnosed as suffering from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, on 25 August– also loses his bid to get the European court of human rights to stay the extradition on 28 August. Then-home secretary Jacqui Smith rejects a request from McKinnon's legal team on 13 September to stop the extradition on the grounds of his Asperger's diagnosis. | The House of Lords, then Britain's highest court, dismisses a further appeal bid by the computer expert on 30 July and McKinnon – who is diagnosed as suffering from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, on 25 August– also loses his bid to get the European court of human rights to stay the extradition on 28 August. Then-home secretary Jacqui Smith rejects a request from McKinnon's legal team on 13 September to stop the extradition on the grounds of his Asperger's diagnosis. |
| 2009 | 2009 |
| In January, McKinnon wins permission in the high court to seek judicial review of Smith's decision and, a month later, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announces it will not bring charges against him in Britain. McKinnon makes a bid at the high court in July to force the government into allowing a trial in the UK, challenging the CPS's refusal to sanction a trial in this country, but two high court judges refuse to block his removal. Then-Tory leader David Cameron joins the growing call for a review of extradition laws in July, saying McKinnon is "a vulnerable young man and I see no compassion in sending him thousands of miles away from his home and loved ones to face trial". The following month, McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp, criticises the then-home secretary Alan Johnson for linking her son to the 9/11 terror attacks and the deaths of nearly 3,000 US citizens. In November, the Commons home affairs select committee calls for a "comprehensive review" of the controversial treaty under which McKinnon could be sent for trial while Johnson, as home secretary, rejects a last-ditch appeal for him to block the extradition, saying: "I have no general discretion." | In January, McKinnon wins permission in the high court to seek judicial review of Smith's decision and, a month later, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announces it will not bring charges against him in Britain. McKinnon makes a bid at the high court in July to force the government into allowing a trial in the UK, challenging the CPS's refusal to sanction a trial in this country, but two high court judges refuse to block his removal. Then-Tory leader David Cameron joins the growing call for a review of extradition laws in July, saying McKinnon is "a vulnerable young man and I see no compassion in sending him thousands of miles away from his home and loved ones to face trial". The following month, McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp, criticises the then-home secretary Alan Johnson for linking her son to the 9/11 terror attacks and the deaths of nearly 3,000 US citizens. In November, the Commons home affairs select committee calls for a "comprehensive review" of the controversial treaty under which McKinnon could be sent for trial while Johnson, as home secretary, rejects a last-ditch appeal for him to block the extradition, saying: "I have no general discretion." |
| 2010 | 2010 |
| McKinnon's mother receives 173 votes when she stands against Jack Straw, who helped agree the extradition treaty with the US, in his Blackburn constituency at the general election in May. Later that month, the new home secretary, Theresa May, gives campaigners a glimmer of hope by agreeing his case should be adjourned while medical evidence is considered. Now prime minister, Cameron discusses McKinnon's case with US president Barack Obama in July, saying he hopes "a way through" can be found. It also emerges through leaked documents in November that, as prime minister, Gordon Brown unsuccessfully proposed a deal to allow McKinnon to serve any prison sentence in Britain. | McKinnon's mother receives 173 votes when she stands against Jack Straw, who helped agree the extradition treaty with the US, in his Blackburn constituency at the general election in May. Later that month, the new home secretary, Theresa May, gives campaigners a glimmer of hope by agreeing his case should be adjourned while medical evidence is considered. Now prime minister, Cameron discusses McKinnon's case with US president Barack Obama in July, saying he hopes "a way through" can be found. It also emerges through leaked documents in November that, as prime minister, Gordon Brown unsuccessfully proposed a deal to allow McKinnon to serve any prison sentence in Britain. |
| 2011 | 2011 |
| The government should renegotiate the UK's extradition treaty with the US to ensure British citizens get the same protection as Americans, the joint committee on human rights (JCHR) says in June. But in October, a long-awaited review of extradition arrangements by retired court of appeal judge Sir Scott Baker finds the current treaty between the US and the UK is both balanced and fair. Many MPs and campaigners urge the government to change the Extradition Act anyway. | The government should renegotiate the UK's extradition treaty with the US to ensure British citizens get the same protection as Americans, the joint committee on human rights (JCHR) says in June. But in October, a long-awaited review of extradition arrangements by retired court of appeal judge Sir Scott Baker finds the current treaty between the US and the UK is both balanced and fair. Many MPs and campaigners urge the government to change the Extradition Act anyway. |
| 2012 | 2012 |
| The high court expresses concern in January over the length of time McKinnon's case is taking and attempts to speed matters up by listing it for a hearing in July. In March, Cameron and Obama agree to review the operation of the controversial extradition treaty, but do not mention any individual cases during talks at the White House. The decision whether to block McKinnon's extradition now rests with May. | The high court expresses concern in January over the length of time McKinnon's case is taking and attempts to speed matters up by listing it for a hearing in July. In March, Cameron and Obama agree to review the operation of the controversial extradition treaty, but do not mention any individual cases during talks at the White House. The decision whether to block McKinnon's extradition now rests with May. |
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