Court nixes hacker's extradition appeal

LONDON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Judges in Britain's High Court rejected a computer hacker's request for the Supreme Court to hear his appeal of his possible extradition to the United States.

The mother of computer hacker Gary McKinnon criticized the ruling by two High Court judges against her son, saying she will fight to prevent him from facing up to 70 years in prison if convicted of computer crimes in the United States, The Times of London reported Friday.

"What Gary did was wrong, born of his compulsive and obsessive behavior. But it does not justify his extradition, which would be a cruel and excessive punishment, particularly given his Asperger's," McKinnon's mother, Janice Sharp, said of the ruling that precludes her son from appealing to the newly formed British Supreme Court.

"I've fought for five years to protect my son and I am not about to give up now."

Authorities in the United States allege McKinnon, 43, caused $800,000 in damage by hacking 97 military computers, including computers at the Pentagon.

Attorney Karen Todner, who represents KcKinnon, told The Times she will ask Home Secretary Alan Johnson to allow her client to avoid extradition.