Johnson "stops the clock" on McKinnon case

New medical evidence buys hacker some time

McKinnon: case put on hold

Home secretary Alan Johnson is to look at new medical evidence before formally approving the extradition of British hacker Gary McKinnon.

Johnson said he had "stopped the clock ticking" on proceedings to give McKinnon's lawyers time to appeal to the European court of human rights.

McKinnon, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, stands accused of hacking into 97 US military computers and causing almost £500,000 worth of damage in what US officials claim is the "biggest military hack of all time".

He claims he was just seeking evidence for UFOs.

He faces 60 years of prison if he is tried and found guilty in the US.

The 43-year-old was recently refused permission to take his case to the newly formed supreme court.

He was then given 14 days to appeal to the European court of human rights, but has now been given an extension to make legal representations, according to Johnson.

"We have stopped the clock ticking on the representation to the European court because new medical evidence has been provided," he said.

"There are two issues upon which Gary McKinnon's legal advisers have argued: the first is that the director of public prosecutions should have tried him in this country."

A high profile campaign by the Daily Mail has demanded that McKinnon be tried in this country.

Home Secretary Johnson has also been put under pressure to delay proceedings further until an inquiry into the US-UK extradition treaty had been carried out by the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee.

Johnson said the High Court had already dismissed applications for him to be tried in the UK, but added yesterday: "I have to ensure that his Article 3 human rights are being respected. It's that new medical evidence that I will be looking at very carefully."