U.S. prosecutors say 31-year-old Love hacked agencies including the U.S. Army, NASA, the Federal Reserve and the Environmental Protection Agency and stole names, Social Security numbers and credit card information.
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USA authorities have fought to bring Mr Love over the Atlantic to face charges of cyber-hacking in the United States, which Mr Love’s lawyers say could mean a sentence of up to 99 years if found guilty.
His case was heard at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June and on Friday a judge will decide whether he should be extradited to face the possibility of three separate trials in different jurisdictions.
“I accept Mr Love suffers from both physical and mental health issues but I have found the medical facilities in the United States prison estate. are such that I can be satisfied his needs will be comprehensively met by the USA authorities”, judge Nina Tempia said in her ruling. Supporters stormed out of court shouting: “Kangaroo court”.
Love reportedly hugged a friend and his mother after the verdict was announced and told them: “Don’t worry about me”.
Medical experts have warned that Love, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s and depression, would be at high risk of suicide under the harsh conditions in United States jails.
“If you have come for justice then you have missed it”, he told media gathered in the courtroom afterwards.
But she added: “In balancing the factors for and against extradition I am satisfied that the very strong counter-balancing factors required to find extradition would be disproportionate are not found in this case”.
His father, Alexander Love, has expressed similar concerns: “What worries us most is that my son has stated emphatically that he will kill himself if he gets extradited to America”.
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“Because I have made this very very hard, hopefully someone else does not have to go through it, because if it was easy, they will do it again and again”, says Love.
