[pchelpers] 'US military hacker' was naive not criminal, says specialist

A Wood Green man accused of hacking into the US military's computer
networks did so through "naivety" because of his Asperger's syndrome and
should not be considered a criminal, a specialist on the condition has
said.

Gary McKinnon, 42, is fighting against extradition to the US, where he
faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted of hacking into 97 American
Navy, Army, Nasa and Pentagon computers.

His supporters held a press conference on Thursday to plea for him to be
prosecuted in the UK on a lesser charge instead.

Cambridge University professor Simon Baron-Cohen, a leading specialist
on Asperger's syndrome, said what Mr McKinnon did was "the activity of
somebody with a disability rather than a criminal activity".

Mr McKinnon was only diagnosed with the condition in August last year.

More here:
http://www.pressassociation.com/component/pafeeds/2009/01/15/us_military_hacker_was_naive_not_criminal_says_specialist?camefrom=regional
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