New government gives Gary McKinnon new hope

The Tories and Lib Dem coalition hasn’t long settled in at number 10, but already the new government has brought fresh hope to a long-running legal case.

You’re unlikely to have missed the saga of Gary McKinnon, the man who allegedly hacked US military computers, and was due to be extradited to face a potential 60 year jail term in the States.

His defence counsel has argued against this vehemently, saying that Asperger’s sufferer McKinnon’s mental health is in such a poor condition that he couldn’t handle the process, and extradition would make him a suicide risk.

At any rate, the last move made in January was that a High Court judge said the Labour Home Secretary at the time, Alan Johnson, could arguably have acted unlawfully in allowing his extradition.

A further judicial review was granted over the decision to extradite, with the hearing due to take place this month, and finally decide the man’s fate.

However, that court case has now been adjourned. According to a report in The Daily Mail, the new Home Secretary, Theresa May, has said she needs time to review new medical evidence about the state of McKinnon’s mental health, and whether or not he is fit to face trial.

The move is definitely a positive one for McKinnon’s lawyers, who will now get extra time to prepare a defence.

Indeed, it has certainly given a fresh spark to McKinnon’s mother, who told the BBC that she felt “confident” that the new government would turn down the US extradition request.

In an interview with the Beeb, she said that Cameron and Clegg had both slated Labour over the handling of the McKinnon affair, and had “promised” to ensure that Gary was tried over here.

The Home Office will also be investigating the powers of the Extradition Act, considering giving more protection to Brits who are accused of crimes by America.