News
Theresa May calls experts to assess whether hacker Gary is mentally fit for extradition
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
By Mary McConnell
TWO psychiatric experts have been called in by Home Secretary Theresa May to assess computer hacker Gary McKinnon’s mental health in the ongoing saga over whether he should be extradited to the US.US prosecutors want to take Mr McKinnon to America to face terrorism charges after he hacked into 97 American military
computers in 2002. If convicted he faces up to 60 years in jail. Mr McKinnon, from Palmers Green, has always maintained he was merely looking for evidence of UFOs.The 44-year-old has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome and is said to be suicidal. His solicitor, Karen Todner, says the
extradition should be stopped on health grounds and has asked Mrs May to intervene.Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson refused to block the extradition last year, rejecting medical evidence provided by
leading experts in Asperger syndrome. Now Mrs May is reviewing the evidence before making her decision.In a letter to Ms Todner, Mrs May asked Mr McKinnon to agree to an assessment by Professor Thomas Fahy, a consultant
forensic psychiatrist, and behavioural psychiatrist Dr Dean Robertson.A Home Office spokesman said: “Following an examination by the two experts, the Home Secretary is seeking to make a decision as soon as possible.”
Mr McKinnon will consult his own psychiatrist, Professor Jeremy Turk, before deciding whether to submit to the test.
Ms Todner told the Advertiser: “It is good news because Gary is still here and has not been extradited. But medical evidence has already been provided by the world’s leading experts in Asperger’s and that evidence has never been disputed.”
Mr McKinnon’s mother, Janis Sharp, said: “I want to know what the criteria is for assessing whether or not Gary should be extradited. He has a pathological fear of travel and he talks about suicide so flippantly, which is very worrying.
“My worry is that so many governments haven’t had the guts to stand up to the Americans. This government hasn’t been tested on that yet.”
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Thursday, 14 October 2010
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