Nasa hacker granted Lords appeal
Published: 15 Oct 2007 17:51 BST
Gary McKinnon, the Briton who has admitted hacking into Nasa's computer systems, has been given leave to appeal against extradition to the US.
McKinnon was granted leave on Thursday to appeal to the Law Lords, a group of senior UK judges, on the grounds of the nature of plea agreement discussions with representatives of the US authorities.
His appeal will be heard "sometime in the New Year", according to his solicitors, Kaim Todner.
The US government wishes to try McKinnon on charges of unauthorised access to Nasa's systems.
According to Kaim Todner, during the plea bargaining process between November 2002 and April 2003, US government representatives attempted to coerce McKinnon so he would not oppose extradition proceedings.
"The US representatives promised [McKinnon] a greatly reduced sentence and that they would facilitate repatriation [if McKinnon co-operated], but that if he opposes they would throw the book at him," said Jeff Anderson, assistant to McKinnon's solicitor. "They said that were he found guilty, he would be put in a super-maximum security facility in Colorado, and spend much of his time in solitary confinement. They told him he would fry."
Anderson said that the US authorities had later denied this claim.
Lords to consider Nasa hacker appeal
Law lords are considering whether to hear Gary McKinnon's appeal against extradition to the US on hacking charges [01 Aug 2007]
NASA hacker to hear fate next month
Gary McKinnon's fight to avoid extradition to the US to face hacking charges continues, after an unsigned note from the US Embassy was produced in court on Wednesday [12 Apr 2006]
Nasa hacker loses extradition appeal
Gary McKinnon, accused of hacking into US governmental organisations including Nasa, may now appeal to the House of Lords [03 Apr 2007]
Nasa hacker's fate hangs in balance
Appeal Court judges hearing Gary McKinnon's extradition case have heard claims he was told he would 'fry' in New Jersey unless he co-operated with US authorities [16 Feb 2007]
Nasa hacker taken ill as appeal continues
British judges are now deliberating whether Gary McKinnon should be extradited [14 Feb 2007]
Nasa hacker's appeal begins
Gary McKinnon's defence lawyers claim he was offered a deal by US authorities, as his appeal against extradition begins [14 Feb 2007]
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