Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 12:21 pm  

Home Secretary blocks his extradition to the US http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19957138. The right or wrong decision considering we've just extradited two Muslims to the US both of who have also been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome?

Home Secretary blocks his extradition to the US http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19957138. The right or wrong decision considering we've just extradited two Muslims to the US both of who have also been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome?

Re: Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 12:35 pm  

Theresa "I am not making this up" May uses despised legislation to protect someone? Surely not?

Just as well she didn't scrap the HRA last year

Re: Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 12:54 pm  

It's the right decision. It's pretty clear there wasn't a malicious intent behind what he did and with medical evidence on his side it's a no brainer. The US just want him securely out of the way because they know he's more than capable of doing it again and because he embarrassed them. What people like him need is to be put to work doing something beneficial with his skills.

What happens to him now though? Does he just get tried in this country and jailed here instead? Or do we let him go?

[DaveO]

Re: Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:04 pm  

World of Redboy wrote: Home Secretary blocks his extradition to the US http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19957138. The right or wrong decision considering we've just extradited two Muslims to the US both of who have also been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome? It is certainly controversial given this: "Mrs May’s decision is controversial because only two weeks earlier the government approved the extradition of Talha Ahsan, a south Londoner accused of running a jihadi website who also suffered Aspergers. Mr Ahsan’s family believe the decision on Mr McKinnon was deliberately delayed until after Talha had been extradited." taken from here. I could well believe the delay was intentional. Not just so McKinnon's case didn't set a precedent that could have been used to argue Ahsan should not be extradited but also because as we just handed over some suspected terrorists that is a sweetener to the USA to soften the blow of not getting McKinnon and showing we are still prepared to ship people out. Maybe if the US didn't have judicial system that is perceived as unfair and unreasonable things might be different. McKinnon could have faced up to 60 years in prison for this which is ludicrous and disproportionate. In the UK he would probably get a suspended sentence and no one would bat an eyelid about it being too lenient. Given the circumstances of McKiinon's case I think this is the correct decision but really it was stupid of the USA to continue to seek his extradition once the facts became known and they could have saved McKinnon 10 years of anguish and the tax payer a small fortune.

World of Redboy wrote: Home Secretary blocks his extradition to the US http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19957138. The right or wrong decision considering we've just extradited two Muslims to the US both of who have also been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome? It is certainly controversial given this: "Mrs May’s decision is controversial because only two weeks earlier the government approved the extradition of Talha Ahsan, a south Londoner accused of running a jihadi website who also suffered Aspergers. Mr Ahsan’s family believe the decision on Mr McKinnon was deliberately delayed until after Talha had been extradited." taken from here. I could well believe the delay was intentional. Not just so McKinnon's case didn't set a precedent that could have been used to argue Ahsan should not be extradited but also because as we just handed over some suspected terrorists that is a sweetener to the USA to soften the blow of not getting McKinnon and showing we are still prepared to ship people out. Maybe if the US didn't have judicial system that is perceived as unfair and unreasonable things might be different. McKinnon could have faced up to 60 years in prison for this which is ludicrous and disproportionate. In the UK he would probably get a suspended sentence and no one would bat an eyelid about it being too lenient. Given the circumstances of McKiinon's case I think this is the correct decision but really it was stupid of the USA to continue to seek his extradition once the facts became known and they could have saved McKinnon 10 years of anguish and the tax payer a small fortune.

[DaveO]

Re: Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:09 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

It's the right decision. It's pretty clear there wasn't a malicious intent behind what he did and with medical evidence on his side it's a no brainer. The US just want him securely out of the way because they know he's more than capable of doing it again and because he embarrassed them. What people like him need is to be put to work doing something beneficial with his skills.

What happens to him now though? Does he just get tried in this country and jailed here instead? Or do we let him go?

It is up to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide if he should stand trial here.

Re: Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:14 pm  

I have only this morning heard him speak on radio, he sounds intelligent and articulate, so he probably new what he was doing was going to cause mayhem. The decision is probably correct, he is guilty of being a complete pillock for doing it, which in itself is not a crime (being a pillock that is). Lets hope he has to pay some of the enormous costs he has incurred, this might teach him not to be a dick in future.

Re: Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:11 pm  

Some good medical and legal opinions here...

Re: Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:51 pm  

Chris28 wrote:

Some good medical and legal opinions here...

RLFANS is always the best place to go whether you've got a nasty rash, interest only mortgage deficit, Volvo or custody battle.

Re: Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:01 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

RLFANS is always the best place to go whether you've got a nasty rash, interest only mortgage deficit, Volvo or custody battle.

She can have the kids, I'll keep the Volvo

[DaveO]

Re: Gary McKinnon : Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:33 pm  

Chris28 wrote:

Theresa "I am not making this up" May uses despised legislation to protect someone? Surely not?

Just as well she didn't scrap the HRA last year

Yep, the legal basis for stopping the extradition was given to her by the Human Rights Act.