‘For sake of justice and humanity, do not extradite him’
‘Hacker’ appeals against decision to try him in US
‘Asking the US to do what’s normally done’
THE extradition of accused computer hacker Lauri Love would ‘not be in the interests of justice or humanity’, the High Court heard yesterday.
The son of a Scots baptist minister would commit suicide or his mental health would deteriorate so much as to make him unfit for trial, his lawyer argued.
The dramatic evidence was heard on the first day of the Asperger’s sufferer’s appeal against the decision by a British judge to extradite him to the US.
He is accused of hacking into the FBI, US Central Bank and Nasa systems and faces trial in three separate US jurisdictions, with a sentence of up to 99 years if found guilty.
Experts, his family and supporters argue that the 32-year-old would commit suicide rather than face trial in the US.
He arrived at court yesterday playing I Feel Love by Donna Summer from a large speaker, in a reference to his name. His father, the Rev Alexander Love, his mother Sirkka-Liisa were in court, while other supporters protested outside the Royal Courts of Justice.
The two-day hearing in front of the most senior judge in England and Wales will address the decision to extradite Mr Love, from Stradishall, Suffolk.
Yesterday, Mr Love’s barrister Edward Fitzgerald, QC, told the court there were ‘overwhelming reasons of justice and humanity’ why any trial should take place in the UK.
He pointed out that there had been 12 cases of UK citizens accused of hacking US websites who were tried in Britain.
This, he told Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett and Mr Justice Ouseley, demonstrated that it was the ‘normal’ procedure.
‘It can be done; it has been done. We’re asking the US to do what’s normally done,’ he said.
Extraditing Mr Love, who studied at Glasgow University, would be a ‘disproportionate response’ to his alleged crime, given his mental and physical health issues, he added.
In September 2016, District Judge Nina Tempia ruled at Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Mr Love could be extradited.
Mr Love’s lawyers argued that she had ‘misdirected herself and erred in law in her conclusions’ and asked the court to allow his trial to take place in the UK.
Mr Fitzgerald said that there was a ‘compelling’ need for Mr Love to remain in Britain with the care and support of his family.
He cited new evidence of the ‘inhumanity of the conditions in the federal prison system’ for someone with developmental problems.
Experts have warned that there is a ‘high risk’ that Mr Love will commit suicide if sent to the US. Emma Norton, head of casework for human rights organisation Liberty, which is intervening in the case, said: ‘Extradition powers exist to stop fugitives escaping justice, not pack vulnerable Britons off to foreign courts and unfamiliar legal systems.’
The proceedings continue.