McKinnon's lawyer, David Pannick QC, told the Lords hearing
yesterday that prosecutors had said that he faced eight-to-ten
years in jail if he contested the charges, but a sentence of only
37-to-46 months if he co-operated.
He also said that McKinnon was threatened with terrorism charges
that carry potential 60-year jail terms.
Lawyers for the Home Office, arguing for extradition, said that
no threats were issued by US authorities, and that the extradition
should be allowed to go ahead.
The Law Lords can block the extradition if they find that there
has been an abuse of process. A ruling is not expected for a
further three weeks.
McKinnon hacked into computer networks belonging to US military
headquarters The Pentagon, NASA and other government systems in
2001 and 2002. He did so from a dial-up connection at his
girlfriend's aunt's house and was caught.
McKinnon told OUT-LAW Radio in 2006 that he was prepared to face
trial in the UK and that he has never contested that he broke into
the computer networks. He said that he objects to extradition to
the US since he carried out his actions in the UK.
McKinnon claims to have been told when he was caught UK that he
faced community service, but when US prosecutors got involved they
told him he could go to jail for 70 years.
He claims he was offered the chance to co-operate in the
investigation, which would mean he could not only receive a shorter
sentence but serve the latter half of it in the UK and be eligible
for more lenient UK parole terms.
Pannick told five Law Lords that such threats and bargaining was
an abuse of the extradition process.
McKinnon's solicitor Karen Todner told The Register that if the
Lords refused to overturn the High Court's extradition order she
and McKinnon would take the case to the European Court of Human
Rights.
The Lords hearing is restricted just to the behaviour of the US
authorities and what effect that has on McKinnon's rights.
