Alleged hacker closer to U.S. extradition

LONDON, April 3 (UPI) -- The British High Court refused Tuesday to bar the extradition of a man who allegedly hacked into U.S. military computers from his North London bedroom.

Gary McKinnon could face a life sentence if he is convicted in the United States, The Scotsman reported. His lawyers argued that he had been subjected to threats after his arrest in 2003 by federal prosecutors in New Jersey who warned him he faced much harsher treatment if he did not agree to a plea bargain.

"We make no secret of the fact that we view with a degree of distaste the way in which the American authorities are alleged to have approached the plea bargain negotiations," the judges said. "We do not consider that we should allow our cultural reservations about this style of plea bargaining to stand in the way of extradition."

McKinnon's lawyers plan to make a final appeal to the House of Lords.