Judge gives verdict in Halo 3 case

Essential linkage: Guilty! But it's the judge's final comments that scare us the most...

Following on from our Halo 3 shooting piece the other day, the judge in the case has handed down a guilty verdict, finding 17-year-old Daniel Petric guilty of the murder of his parents.

The very excellent Game Politics site has been covering the case (unsurprisingly), and has transcribed some interesting (read: Scary) portions of the judge's full remarks on the case.

Check the story out - it makes for some interesting reading. Of note:

"This Court's opinion is that we don't know enough about these video games. In this particular case, not so much the violence of the game because I believe in the Halo 3, what it amounts to is a contest to see who can shoot the most aliens who attack."

Uh huh. 'The Halo 3'... yeah, that sure sounds like a man who's in full possession of the facts of just what gaming is and isn't. Riiiight.

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/01/13/judge-comes-down-hard-video-games-halo-3-murder-trial

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14 Comments

Mademan Jan 15, 2009 10:42 AM	I think the idea behind the guilty verdict is to dissuade lawyers from pleading insanity on behalf of their client, whether its true or not, to get a lesser sentance. Of course, this idea backfires - what happens when an insane person pleads insanity? Unsuprisingly, the father was a church minister - I'd be driven insane in that sort of environment. Although that doesn't solve the root cause of this problem - they still don't like Mondays.
Hawkeye Jan 15, 2009 11:03 AM	Tell me why?
p0is(+)n Jan 15, 2009 11:43 AM	If you shoot your own parents over something like this, you deserve worse than death.
Teffmyster Jan 15, 2009 1:05 PM	How about making a law to stop Americans from buying GUNS.
moofactory Jan 15, 2009 1:09 PM	So the judge basicly said, he genuinely belives that his parents would "respawn"? 0.o
Hoonbernator Jan 15, 2009 2:43 PM	More proof for the NRA - Guns don't kill people, Halo 3 kills people.
sm1ddy Jan 15, 2009 3:59 PM	Teffmyster gun control laws overall are bs and don't work effectively anyway. Mainly they are a band aid solutions to a complex problem of why people are trying to kill other people. I think the judge who obviously doesn't understand video games as in depth as some people did come to a fairly level headed conclusion. It's easy to sit here and criticize but we haven't seen the full court decision, it's easy for these articles to pick at bits and pieces but not provide the rest of the information. Understanding video games overall isn't what the court is there to do, they are trying to pass judgment on a murder that to a degree did involve a video game.
heydude Jan 15, 2009 8:26 PM	This young man clearly has some serious issues. To shoot your parents over something like this is stuffed up. How many people have things taken away from them, they dont act like this idiot. He now has to live the rest of his life knowing he killed his own mother over a fucking video game, what a dick.
Dysfunctional16 Jan 16, 2009 9:44 AM	The fact that this issue involved a "Video Game" shouldn't even come into it. Bottom line is that he killed someone and attempted to kill another because he didn't get what he wanted. And apparently he was level minded enough to try get his victim to take the gun after the fact proves he was not THAT detached from reality. The fact that the victims are/were his parents is even more macabre. This really shouldn't have to do with games - although I'm sure the anti-game activists will keep their guns loaded with this story.
xtort Jan 16, 2009 10:24 AM	Why dose a church minister have or need a gun in the first place!!!!!!!!!!
n00bz0r Jan 16, 2009 10:24 AM	The issue in this case did very heavily involve a video game. But it wasn't the playing of said game that sparked the instance of violence. Looks to me like and case of greed. Someone demands something of someone who is not required to give into demands. In this case the kids parents just taking a video game away from their child because he simply plays it too much and they're concerned. The fact that the game happened to be Halo 3 is totally arbitrary. It could have been Mario Kart 64 for all the kid cares. Because the kid didn't get what he demanded he decided the best course of action would be to take back his game by force. With a gun. This is a case of greed which led to violence. (IMO ;)
Argotha Jan 16, 2009 10:58 AM	from the previous page on this story phatbeat Jan 14, 2009 12:35 PM This doesn't actually show the whole story. The kid never actually played halo, he purchased it without his fathers consent and then it was taken away from him before he even put it in the drive. http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?showtopic=7265 but even so, ~$70 game vs parents, sarcasticly oh defs I would choose the game over my parents anyday but yes that kid has some serious issues, but he IS NOT insane
Mademan Jan 16, 2009 11:13 AM	I want a law to stop Americans.
mykl_c Jan 19, 2009 4:08 PM	Well, I've been gaming for thirty years and have never killed anyone. Yes, it is annoying when you can't play a game for whatever reason, but not that annoying. Methinks there may be a lot of background we're not privy to, but the judge does seem to have a particular opinion, regardless of the evidence.

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