The Times newspaper reports:
From The Times
October 17, 2009Pentagon hacker wins a US extradition delay for psychiatric review
Frances Gibb, Legal Editor
Lawyers for the Home Secretary have agreed to delay moves to extradite Gary McKinnon, the computer hacker, pending a review of fresh psychiatric evidence.
Last week Mr McKinnon, who has Asperger's syndrome, was refused permission to take his case to the Supreme Court and faced 14 days to make representations. But government lawyers have now said that they will set aside the 14-day deadline to take time for consideration of the evidence.
Karen Todner, Mr McKinnon's lawyer, said: "We do take some hope from this. It is the first time that Alan Johnson will have a proper opportunity to consider the reports in this case and it shows that he is taking it seriously. In the meantime we don't want to be hammering on his door."
[...]
Will this sort of Joanna Lumely style charm soften the heart
of the the former hardline Communist, avowed atheist, former Trades Union apparatchik and current 6th choice as Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson ?
More detailed reporting by The Daily Mail:
Fresh hope for Gary McKinnon as his U.S. extradition is delayed
By James Slack and Michael Seamark
Last updated at 1:18 AM on 17th October 2009The Home Secretary has halted Gary McKinnon's extradition to consider new medical evidence about the computer hacker's mental state.
The Asperger's victim had been told he could be sent to the U.S. - where he faces 60 years in jail for hacking into military computers - by the end of this month.
But in an unexpected move, Alan Johnson has stopped the extradition clock.
He has asked Home Office lawyers to consider the implications of fresh evidence about Mr McKinnon's state of psychiatric health
[...]
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: 'The Home Secretary has sat on his hands for too long, even in the face of legal advice from leading advocates that contradicts the Home Office's position.
'This new psychiatric report into Gary McKinnon's condition must persuade him that it is no longer acceptable to shrug his shoulders and claim that nothing can be done.
'Alan Johnson should do the decent thing and intervene to ensure that Gary is tried in Britain, where he committed his crime and confessed to it.'
[...]
Mr Johnson's decision to stall the extradition is highly surprising as he has always insisted he is powerless to intervene in the case - a claim hotly contested by independent lawyers.
By halting the process, even temporarily, he appears to be conceding he is at least free to consider Mr McKinnon's plight.
Campaigners will point to the fact that, if he could do nothing, there would be no reason to even study the latest 60-page medical report.
The Home Office may, however, be seeking simply to take all possible steps to avoid further legal challenges.
Rejecting the evidence outright could prompt a judicial review, or action by the European Court of Human Rights.
The consequences of Mr Johnson's actions are that, at the very least, Mr McKinnon has been given more time to fight extradition.
[...]
Is this really just a "going through the motions" political delay, until after the Glasgow East by election, which is due to be held on the 12th November, where a Labour defeat might lead to some desperate Labour party supporters to call for Gordon Brown to step down as leader, in favour of Alan Johnson ?
Ian Lowe
This is one of the most depressing posts I have come across, despite being good news for Gary.
I have written to my MP in support of Gary.
I have written to Obama asking him to intervene.
I have written to the State Department asking them to drop the extradition request.
I have written to the Lord Advocate's office, asking them to consider their position, and again when the asperger diagnosis was brought forward.
I also happen to be an atheist.
I am disgusted that you somehow think that Alan Johnson is less of a man because he is an 'avowed atheist'.
Differ with the man's politics all you want, but do not make his atheism an issue.
I suggest that you apologise for this, before you risk losing the support of the many good Atheist people who have been supporting the campaign, myself included.
Ian.
Elle Hart, Elec.Eng.Tech.
Reply to Honeybear::
Whoever MI5 is, let him know I am open for business, if he should ever require tech support.
Na, I dont blame you for that instance of a 2600 meet. But you need to realize that it works both ways. Double edged sword. We are watched constantly, so maybe we want to watch you before you watch us, uh?
Conspiracy? Geeze - Not a therorist, I look at the facts and assess them. All code can be taken down to machine language and reverse engineered, true. But political manipulation is through the media. Thus the importance of our right to uncensored information on the internet. So regardless what is on tv or the news we have access to unbiased information. Again why hackers are a threat.
Elle
Honeybear
At this late stage in the game, we can say anything.
So, here goes. Secretary Clinton comes to England when Gary's case is bogged down and embarrasing both governments. Soon after, Secretary Johnson on behalf of the British (American) government, stops lying and violating his oath of office, which other elected British sub-government officials also, have been doing for seven years, to impress the British government's leaders (the Americans) and now he allows Gary's medical condition to be considered.
Secretary Johnson is undoubtedly a rebel who's political career is today destroyed because he had the kahonas (= "upbringing." I'm a Feminist) to do the right thing. The American leadership of Britain won't allow this to go unpunished, even though they had to allow it and so ordered.
Stu
I think this is the move that will leave Gary in limbo until Brown is kicked out of office. The current administration, since the man with no electoral mandate has stropped his way to power, have failed to make decisions on pretty much anything and have left this country becalmed to their utter and complete shame. I think we can be reasonably confident, the tories will have the guts to put a stop to this once and for all.
Dougie Young
I am absolutely raging at the inactivity of our weak Government with regard to this sad case concerning Gary. Gordon Brown, our PM with the backbone of a kipper, obviously doesn't wish to offend his American masters for a second time (Libyan Bomber?).
Please remind Gary and his family that millions of us across the UK fully support him and will not let up until a proper decision is made on him in this unfortunate case.
Dougie Young Glasgow
John, London
I wonder what effect it would have on the extradition process, if Gary revealed what he
read on those US military computers.
Did he see any evidence of US Government knowledge of UFO's and ET's...?
Has Gary already said anything about this...?
According to an article on project camelot website, the main reason they want to extradite
Gary to the US, is because he DID see
evidence this nature, possibly
a list of non terrestrial personnel
in the US military.
According to American researcher David Wilcock
and others, ther will soon be a worldwide announcement and a full disclosure by the US
of all knowledge of UFO's and ET's that have visited Earth and that The US goverment have actually been in communication with the ET's
for some years...!
http://www.projectcamelot.org/gary_mckinnon.html
http://divinecosmos.com/
mo
Yawn...more brit tax-payers legal aid going down the drain...this man and his lawyers have cost us....????
rob
I agree with mo. One day in the future, you guys may look back and be sorry for what could easily be viewed as complete waste of time, energy and resource. hindsight is always 20/20 eh.
Shame Gary very naively admitted his guilt in that first police interview, huh. You guys would have had him off by now, if he hadn't.
It is just so unfair for guilty people to be treated so harshly by our justice system.. What has this world come to.
fg
@ rob - standing up for British justice and our rights and freedoms against this morally weak yet authoritarian Government, is not a waste of time.
You appear to have missed the point that Gary has not been charged, tried or convicted of anything in the United Kingdom, even though he should have been.
fg
@ mo - rather less than what the failures of the Labour government in the UK and the political scheming of the USA governments have cost us all, in terms of freedom, justice and British sovereignty.
Nefertiti
LOL @ rob and mo. Two people who would have handed themselves over, immediately and gladly, to the US authorities.
What lovely little sheep.
On a more serious note, i'm glad McKinnon is using lots of Legal Aid because, from sometime next year, the average UK citizen will find it very hard to come by due to changes in legislation brought about under the Blair administration.
Peter Sharp
I am fed up of hearing this nonsense about this man. He has committed a crime against the USA and they have the total right to try him in their own country. What is it that you are so afraid of? That he will be tried properly in the USA? No doubt if he were tried in the UK he would get off because our legal / 'justice' system is a complete joke.
He is ill - what a load of bull. Thats the stunt that all peodophiles, murderers, rapists use to get off facing up to their repsonsiblities. Bunch of do gooders you lot, get a life.