update on Gary McKinnons long awaited freedom or maybe not now!

Jacqui D · 11-28-2009, 04:46 PM

An affront to British justice: Gary McKinnon could be in a U.S. jail before Christmas
By MICHAEL SEAMARK and JAMES SLACK
Last updated at 11:06 PM on 27th November 2009

Appeal: Janis Sharp, pictured here with son Gary, fears he will be in a U.S. jail by Christmas
Gary McKinnon's heartbroken family fear he could be behind bars in the United States by Christmas after Alan Johnson's 'barbaric' decision not to halt his extradition.
The Home Secretary faced widespread condemnation yesterday for ignoring overwhelming medical evidence that the computer hacker is highly likely to kill himself if sent to America.
A devastating psychiatric report said suicide was an 'almost certain inevitability' if the 43-year-old Asperger's sufferer was extradited to the U.S., where he faces up to 60 years in jail for hacking into military computers searching for reports of UFO sightings.
But Mr Johnson rejected the lastditch appeal by Gary's lawyers, leaving his mother Janis Sharp, who has fought a tireless campaign – backed by the Daily Mail – to have her son tried in the UK, in despair.
She said: 'This is a cruel and miserable decision. If the severity of Gary's mental condition isn't sufficient to prevent his extradition, I can't imagine what is. God help others facing a similar fate. Alan Johnson and this Government should hang their heads in shame to force a peaceful, vulnerable, misguided UFO fanatic like Gary thousands of miles away from his much needed support network.
'Who exactly is our Government's loyalty to? Certainly not its own citizens.
'We have seven days to seek a judicial review of this awful decision, or an intervention from the European Court of Human Rights.
'If not, Gary could be extradited before Christmas.'
Gary's lawyer, Karen Todner, said: 'It's a devastating blow and we are certainly coming to the end of the road.
'We're just hoping that someone sees sense and steps in.
Enlarge
Gary McKinnon graphic
'All the legal team do know is we cannot give up because in some ways it's like dealing with a Death Row case. We genuinely believe that Gary's life is at stake.'
Last night it emerged that Mr Johnson had also refused a separate request to postpone Gary's extradition for four to six months so he could receive medical treatment.
Mr Johnson said only that, if Gary's condition deteriorated further, 'there are suitable protections available within the United Kingdom – including in-patient treatment and the power to detain compulsorily if necessary'.
Conservative justice spokesman David Burrowes said: 'Alan Johnson has washed his hands of Gary.'
Downing Street was also under fire over the timing of the announcement that the Government was cutting Gary adrift.
Letters were emailed to Gary's lawyers and mother only after Gordon Brown was in the air on his way to a Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago, where he could not easily be held to account.
Liberal Democrat spokesman Chris Huhne said: 'It should be a source of shame to Gordon Brown that his Government waited until he had left the country before running outrageous risks with a man's life.
'This Government has appalling priorities when it values unfair and unequal extradition arrangements with another country over the vulnerable life of one of our own citizens.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0YAoABFGu

11-28-2009, 04:46 PM	#1
Jacqui D Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kent,England Posts: 1,267	update on Gary McKinnons long awaited freedom or maybe not now! An affront to British justice: Gary McKinnon could be in a U.S. jail before Christmas By MICHAEL SEAMARK and JAMES SLACK Last updated at 11:06 PM on 27th November 2009 Appeal: Janis Sharp, pictured here with son Gary, fears he will be in a U.S. jail by Christmas Gary McKinnon's heartbroken family fear he could be behind bars in the United States by Christmas after Alan Johnson's 'barbaric' decision not to halt his extradition. The Home Secretary faced widespread condemnation yesterday for ignoring overwhelming medical evidence that the computer hacker is highly likely to kill himself if sent to America. A devastating psychiatric report said suicide was an 'almost certain inevitability' if the 43-year-old Asperger's sufferer was extradited to the U.S., where he faces up to 60 years in jail for hacking into military computers searching for reports of UFO sightings. But Mr Johnson rejected the lastditch appeal by Gary's lawyers, leaving his mother Janis Sharp, who has fought a tireless campaign – backed by the Daily Mail – to have her son tried in the UK, in despair. She said: 'This is a cruel and miserable decision. If the severity of Gary's mental condition isn't sufficient to prevent his extradition, I can't imagine what is. God help others facing a similar fate. Alan Johnson and this Government should hang their heads in shame to force a peaceful, vulnerable, misguided UFO fanatic like Gary thousands of miles away from his much needed support network. 'Who exactly is our Government's loyalty to? Certainly not its own citizens. 'We have seven days to seek a judicial review of this awful decision, or an intervention from the European Court of Human Rights. 'If not, Gary could be extradited before Christmas.' Gary's lawyer, Karen Todner, said: 'It's a devastating blow and we are certainly coming to the end of the road. 'We're just hoping that someone sees sense and steps in. Enlarge Gary McKinnon graphic 'All the legal team do know is we cannot give up because in some ways it's like dealing with a Death Row case. We genuinely believe that Gary's life is at stake.' Last night it emerged that Mr Johnson had also refused a separate request to postpone Gary's extradition for four to six months so he could receive medical treatment. Mr Johnson said only that, if Gary's condition deteriorated further, 'there are suitable protections available within the United Kingdom – including in-patient treatment and the power to detain compulsorily if necessary'. Conservative justice spokesman David Burrowes said: 'Alan Johnson has washed his hands of Gary.' Downing Street was also under fire over the timing of the announcement that the Government was cutting Gary adrift. Letters were emailed to Gary's lawyers and mother only after Gordon Brown was in the air on his way to a Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago, where he could not easily be held to account. Liberal Democrat spokesman Chris Huhne said: 'It should be a source of shame to Gordon Brown that his Government waited until he had left the country before running outrageous risks with a man's life. 'This Government has appalling priorities when it values unfair and unequal extradition arrangements with another country over the vulnerable life of one of our own citizens.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0YAoABFGu