UK Hacker Ryan Cleary Has Asperger's Syndrome, Court Told 279
An anonymous reader writes "Ryan Cleary, the British teenager accused of launching DDoS attacks at the likes of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a court heard [Saturday]."
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
Aspergers is not a "get out of jail free" card (Score:4, Informative)
Re:So what? (Score:4, Informative)
I don't know what this means legally exactly but in UK law there is the defense of 'diminished responsibility'. For example, someone who would normally be convicted of murder may instead be convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility if they were suffering from an abnormality of mind.
However what you seem to be suggesting is that if someone with a previously diagnosed condition would like it to be taken into account, then they shouldn't if sufferers of that condition usually try to get on with their lives? If so I think that's a difficult point to argue. Those with schizophrenia try to live normal lives and take responsibility for their actions but surely no one would claim that a sufferer who commits a crime whilst experiencing delusions was responsible.
It's a matter of degree. I once had someone with asperger's in one of my classes and it was very difficult indeed. She once walked into my colleague's office, ignoring him completely, and began browsing his bookshelf! Now, if she had walked out with one of those books, would she have been responsible for theft? Legally? Of course. Compassionately? I would make allowances based on her condition...
Re:Aspergers is not a "get out of jail free" card (Score:5, Informative)
...except...
a) He hasn't failed to be exempted from extradition - it's still being looked at by the Home Office
b) He's not asking for a "get out of jail free" card - it's about being tried (and, if found guilty) imprisoned in the UK rather than the US
c) The "Aspergers defence" only arose - some years after the event - because Simon Baron-Cohen saw an interview with him and suggested he may be suffering from the condition
Re:Aspergers is not a "get out of jail free" card (Score:4, Informative)
i will just leave this relevant article here: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/03/30/090330fa_fact_gawande [newyorker.com]