14 DAY TRIAL // UK Home Secretary Theresa May told members of the Parliament that the extradition of Garry McKinnon to the US would be blocked for human rights reasons. This puts an end to a ten-year battle fought by McKinnon, his supporters and human rights advocates.
The decision comes after experts issued a report in which they argued that they couldn’t guarantee that the 46-year-old who suffered from the Asperger syndrome would not commit suicide if extradited to the United States.
Mrs. May told MPs that McKinnon was seriously ill and admitted that the advice she received from legal and medical experts influenced her decision, The Register reports.
While this is clearly good news for all those who supported the computer expert, the story doesn’t end here. Prosecutors must determine if McKinnon can be tried in his own country.
According to Sky News, McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp, thanked the Home Secretary for not sending her son to the US.
Now, it remains to be seen if and how United States officials will react to the news.