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'Halo 3' Murderer Convicted, Gaming Addiction Dismissed As An Excuse

Posted by Raymond Padilla - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:24 AM

Remember that trial involving a teenager that murdered his mother and shot his father because he wasn't allowed to play Halo 3? The defendant, Daniel Petric, has been convicted. Thankfully, the judge thought the notion of blaming the tragedy on a video game was ridiculous. The Associated Press reported:

"Defense attorneys for 17-year-old Daniel Petric didn't contest that Petric shot his parents in October 2007. But they insisted that the boy's youth and video game addiction made him less responsible. But Lorain County Common Pleas Judge JamesBurge said Monday that is not a defense and there was evidence of prior calculation and planning."

While it's immensely sad that Petric's mother died for a senseless reason, I'm pleased to see that gaming won't be blamed for the murder. I'm grateful that the judge was wise enough to see that the kid is just damaged and his gaming addiction is not a reasonable excuse to kill someone.

Anyone disagree with me? Do you think addiction or any sorts makes someone "less responsible" for their actions? Speak up!

Source

Permalink Tags: Halo 3, Other People's Misfortune, Videogames


Comment(s)

Posted by cxhxexexsxe - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:36 AM

agree 100%
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Posted by invalid - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:38 AM

I agree Raymond, the prior planning evidence really clentched it for the favour of the reputation of video gaming.
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Posted by cogadh - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:39 AM

The "video game addiction" defense will likely go down in history as one of the most ridiculous defenses ever mounted. Thank gawd there was sensible judge on the bench the day that one came into court.
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Posted by TheJediRevan - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:41 AM

No matter addiction or not, every man is accountable for their own acctions. Plan and simple.
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Posted by N8R - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:41 AM

He should have gone with the "she was a bitch" defense.
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Posted by XboxPS3WiiPCfanboy - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:47 AM

what a retard if he blamed GTA 4 he might of got away with it
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Posted by sctydsnktnow - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:47 AM

bad time for name calling rrod
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Posted by N8R - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:49 AM

Was Jack Thompson his defense attorney?
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Posted by asthmagasm - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:51 AM

It's a video game, not black tar heroin. I'm glad this judge is smart enough to see the difference.
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Posted by used2loverhad2killer - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:52 AM

Keep in mind, they're not talking about video game violence here, they're speaking of video game addiction, which I believe is a phenomenon, just not one worthy of a defense in a murder case.
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Posted by Slash5150 - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:52 AM

This kid isn't damaged! He's a freaking retard!

I mean seriously..its a GAME. Its not like its going to go anywhere. Maybe instead of playing games he should have been studying.
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Posted by down311 - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:55 AM

After all you have said about this situation you start your headline with " Halo 3 Murderer " ???

WTF ? You just killed everything you have said about headlines making video games look bad.
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Posted by r_pad - Monday, January 12, 2009 11:59 AM

@N8R I feel guilty for laughing at your comment. I had to admit it though.

@down311 Why? That's what people referred to him as and that's what the murders revolved around. It doesn't reflect the game at all. Would you rather I used "murdered that killed over Halo 3"? That's unwieldy.
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Posted by ac13bx - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:01 PM

Kid got what was coming to him, now he will be someone's beotch in jail.
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Posted by Promethyus - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:05 PM

blaming video games in order to be found innocent is retard, do people think that if they actually jumped on someones head and kileed them, that they could blame it on mario and get away with it (just a expample)?
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Posted by BONERJAM - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:05 PM

Using videogames as an excuse is perfect. How else can I avoid jail time or punishment for my own actions? It's not like I should be responsible for things that I do. Right?
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Posted by Letters2Kay - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:08 PM

"...they insisted that the boy's youth and video game addiction..."

Cool, what's a youth addiction, exactly? ;P
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Posted by juice0325 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:12 PM

The judge is 100% right. Think of it, if you can't blame alcohol addiction as the culprit in a vehicular Homicide or blame gambling addiction for your fraudulent behavior then why should you blame video game addiction for murder.

It' called CONSEQUENCES plain and simple.
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Posted by capthavic - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:12 PM

Glad he's going to jail. We really need to kick this "It's not my fault, _____ made me do it!" phase our country is in.

When I was growing up if I had said something like that I'd just get my arse beat twice as hard.
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Posted by down311 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:15 PM

Raymond - There has been a few writings on G4 where the staff questions why these situations get headlines such as " GTA Killer or Halo Murderer " ? They say how bad it is for gaming to get headlines like that and then this guy turns around and does what he just bitched about.

I agree that the headlines are bad for gaming when the game isn't at fault. From my point of view, they just didn't think about it or they don't really stand behind their writing.
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Posted by haunters - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:15 PM

Of course Fox tries to spin this against video games and leaves out certain elements of the story to prove it.

http://www.foxnews.com/story /0,2933,479262,00.html
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Posted by down311 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:17 PM

Raymond - There has been a few writings on G4 where the staff questions why these situations get headlines such as " GTA Killer or Halo Murderer " ? They say how bad it is for gaming to get headlines like that and then this guy turns around and does what he just bitched about.

I agree that the headlines are bad for gaming when the game isn't at fault. From my point of view, they just didn't think about it or they don't really stand behind their writing.
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Posted by deleted_3AB5CA37-E9C5-419B-A741-3B1113412023 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:19 PM

agreed!

if he did blame a violent killing game manhunt or GTA then he probably would have gotten away with it. but most likely not.

good he got convicted he deserved it for blaming a video game.


that kid is a true nerd probably did that because he had no friends
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Posted by r_pad - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:19 PM

@down311 Have I written anything like that?
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Posted by i_3at_ur_kat - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:20 PM

FOx news is like drastic all the time

GATORADE thirst quencher? or poison to kill you babies!
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Posted by CaptainCondom - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:20 PM

@ everyone
Im just curious of your opinion. Do you think videogames cause violence or spark violence? My aunt said so and I said thats BS. I said GTA could cause violence but not games in general. My aunt is like 90 and when she was our age Al Capone was shooting up the streets and there was alot of gang violence and there certainly wasnt any videogames in the 1930's. What do you think?
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Posted by down311 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:20 PM

Didn't mean to double post.

Anyway, I think video game addiction is a problem but it doesn't help that courts don't allow parents to discipline their kids anymore because it might hurt their feelings.
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Posted by Open_at_the_close - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:21 PM

I think the kid had a case in bizaro world. I'm tired of our society constanly blaming other things like movies, music, games and such as catalists that "caused them to go on a shooting spree".

The judge made a great call and clearly realized that a person should be held accountable for their own actions. But if you seriously belive that a line in a song can cause you to harm somebody then maybe its not what your being exposed to that bringing up those actions.....perhaps and I'm going off on a limb here; but perhaps its just you that screwed up in the head and needs help.

But kudos for the judge on this one!
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Posted by deleted_3AB5CA37-E9C5-419B-A741-3B1113412023 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:21 PM

i also heard about GTA killing blaming it on gta etc.. but this was the 1st on a halo killing


not on this website though
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Posted by Waffles987 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:22 PM

Video games should not be blamed for such a horrible crime. This kid just has problems and deserves to go to jail. I don't mean to be rude, it's just that fact that Raymond is completely right for his opinions and anyone who disagrees is probably a concerned parent or an idiot.
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Posted by Goatslayer72 (BANNED) - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:23 PM

Yeah this kid is retarded, im glad hes going down. Oh well, hes never going to play another video game for the rest of his life, how 'bout them apples.
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Posted by deleted_3AB5CA37-E9C5-419B-A741-3B1113412023 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:24 PM

CaptainCondom

i think as a kid you might think this is all real and maybe want to do this in real life. and they dont think nothing wrong. i seen some kids do that like my neighbor. but as your older there is no excuse everybody knows its fake. and i dont think it sparks violence to me. if a person is mad... take it out on killing people online. and also violence is worldwide. no stopping it. movies are as worse as video games why dont they blame movies
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Posted by juice0325 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:24 PM

Doesn't anyone get it? Maybe you guys do, but try this one on for size;

video game ADDICTION=ALCOHOL ADDICTION in this case.

Someone get's a DWI and says he's not responsible for it because of his Alcohol ADDICTION
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Posted by down311 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:25 PM

Raymond - I don't know if it was you but others have written about video game headlines and it has been recent. I'm pretty sure that Adam Sessler was one of them.

I take it that you guy's don't discuss each others opinions or read each others articles.

I didn't notice who was writing the first articles so I assumed that this one was by the same person. I'm sorry for that but I guess everyone is not in the loop.
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Posted by r_pad - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:30 PM

@down311 No, you're missing the point entirely. The writers of TheFeed are individuals with different opinions. It has nothing to do about being "not in the loop" or not reading each others articles. What I was suggesting to you -- and you completely missed it -- is that my thoughts on the matter are mine alone.
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Posted by sinister6972 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:31 PM

I'm a conservative so you know where I'm going with this...

The problem is not whether an addictive person is not responsible or not but the fact that you have to talk about it. We believe in responsibility, accountability and free-will, that's no secret. BUT if you're gonna complain to me that you are not conscious of your mishaps or problems, then you my friend are watching too much MTV, VH1, American Idol, etc. And by the way, we(conservatives) over here don't agree with American Idol on Fox. Let's just say you don't wanna know what we think of Fox(News) now...TRUST ME!!

We don't believe in that, we don't believe in newspapers(conservative or not), etc. We are so old-school that our history in our state says it all...
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Posted by N8R - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:34 PM

@R Pad

Does that mean I get a free McFarlane figure :D
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Posted by MadPaulKilla - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:39 PM

Honestly if a game was proven to have motivated somebody to do it don't you think it would stem from a history of mental illness/abuse or physical abuse of any sorts? The fact is the kid was premeditating these murders a couple to a few weeks in advance. Fox News for that matter clearly states they report you decide so it's up to you to point out the bias in the reporting.
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Posted by hellrazer360 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:40 PM

*life without parole* @_@ whoa thats crazy.
if i knew i had to serve life in prison without parole id kill myself
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Posted by MadPaulKilla - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:41 PM

I'm just saying it can't be video games you need to know right from wrong and if you don't then there is something not firing off right in that brain of yours. Besides all forms of media have been blamed for things like but not limited to this tragedy. Even books use to be blamed for the evils of society in certain times.
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Posted by down311 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:41 PM

So you don't think that starting a headline like this is bad for gaming ?

I didn't miss anything, the judge said Halo 3 had nothing to do with it so why should he still be called the Halo 3 murderer ?

Might as well have said "Halo 3 is no longer murder suspect".

Why not " victory for gaming " ? Isn't this the way it should be looked at ?
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Posted by DPsx7 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:42 PM

Good that it wasn't blamed on videogames, but you can't help but think if it could have been avoided was he not stuck playing a terrible game.

Kids are stupid these days and don't want to take blame. What else needs to be said?
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Posted by dominion76 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:43 PM

First we had the twinkie defense, now the video game addicition defense. Give me a freaking break. I'm tired of idiots killing someone and them blaming it on something. If you don't want your kids to play a game, or watch a television program you as a parent don't want them to watch, Step the heck up. You better raise your kids before the government tries to.... wait a sec, look at the schools. I guess we should blame them also
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Posted by MadPaulKilla - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:43 PM

@down311

He had already had the title either way. Would you rather have it be the murderer formally known as the Halo 3 killer? It's called continuity.
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Posted by Smartguy81 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:50 PM

@Captain Condom
No, videogames do not cause violent behavior. Bad and or absent parenting causes bad behavior. The bad parenting more often than not leads to the child not feeling accountable for their actions. I think this is a good example.

@N8R
LOL. Now I will have to work extra hard to not go to hell.
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Posted by deleted_3AB5CA37-E9C5-419B-A741-3B1113412023 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:54 PM

WHOA i think something is wrong here. HELLRAZOR360 posted a comment without dissing the ps3.

miracle

lol
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Posted by Aschro77 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:56 PM

He probably should have taken into account during his "prior planning" that if he were to get caught, the likely hood of him getting pounded in the butt is very high. Welcome to reality, fish.
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Posted by spedmonkey2008 - Monday, January 12, 2009 12:56 PM

Why the hell would you kill your parents over a video game. My parents took my games away from me all the time if i didn't listen or do my chores and I didn't even think about killing them. This kid is just retarted and is trying to blame it on a video game. bs!! good thing the judge had a cool head on his shoulders and didn't even convict on the video game commits. And besides the video game defense is the dumbest thing ever allowed!!
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Posted by CaptainCondom - Monday, January 12, 2009 1:08 PM

@ Bizarro__PS3
Thanks. I can use that when my parents say i will kill someone some day.

You said: "i seen some kids do that like my neighbor"
I have seen my neighbors kill thier parents over a video game too. 5 year olds get nasty when they are pissed off.

@ everyone who responded to my question or will
Thanks
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Posted by TheSolMan - Monday, January 12, 2009 1:09 PM

A person is always responsible for their own actions. No addiction is going to change that.
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Posted by r_pad - Monday, January 12, 2009 1:12 PM

@down311 Your interpretation is poor. The verdict doesn't change the fact that the kid killed his mother and shot his father because he wasn't allowed to play Halo 3. The verdict wisely states the gaming addiction isn't an excuse for murder. You seem to have an issue separating those two things.
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Posted by MadPaulKilla - Monday, January 12, 2009 1:15 PM

It's like in Trainspotting when they're in court and the judge said Heroin addiction may explain the reasons for your actions but it doesn't excuse your actions.
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Posted by kangy3 - Monday, January 12, 2009 1:19 PM

@N8R

you are awesome
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Posted by N8R - Monday, January 12, 2009 1:24 PM

@kangy

Thank you, I'm here all week.

(Seriously, I'm here all week. Ask around, it's actually kind of lame)
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Posted by RTR - Monday, January 12, 2009 1:32 PM

Addictions are social issues, not legal issues. 'Nuff said.
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Posted by SooperHiro - Monday, January 12, 2009 2:06 PM

Regardless, plenty of damage was done by him just claiming video gaming as an excuse. I doubt the fact that his excuse was dismissed will be as highly publicized as his using it for an excuse. Plenty of people will be ignorant and simply use this as another strike against video gaming.
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Posted by lightknight77 - Monday, January 12, 2009 2:13 PM

A crack addict would still have been convicted of murder. What kinda dumb ass tries to excuse himself with a leisure-time addiction? It's like a child that kicks his dad in the junk because the father wouldn't let him go outside and play when the kid clearly wants to a lot.
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Posted by zortman66 - Monday, January 12, 2009 2:16 PM

So THAT is what an Xbot looks like?

Yikes!
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Posted by DPsx7 - Monday, January 12, 2009 2:33 PM

Lol. Makes sense, either prison clothes or rags.
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Posted by deleted_3AB5CA37-E9C5-419B-A741-3B1113412023 - Monday, January 12, 2009 2:41 PM

@zortman66

LOL funny
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Posted by maque - Monday, January 12, 2009 3:03 PM

Dude that kid is ugly as sin. He looks like video game addiction was the least of his worries. He apparently forgot to mention his addiction to meth and heroine on the side. Mom probably forgot to buy his meth so he went crazy and killed her shotgun melee style.
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Posted by ohsnaptuls - Monday, January 12, 2009 3:07 PM

Ugh, good EFFING job Petric. Not only did you kill YOUR OWN MOTHER, you shot your own father and tried to blame it on GAMES.

Now all of the moms in America will band together and preach about how much of a bad influence gaming is, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOUR POS SELF MURDERED YOUR OWN MOTHER OVER IT. My god, it's not like they're not annoying enough, but you had to drag us down with you. I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY YOU COULD HAVE WAITED FOR THEM TO GET OVER IT AND MAYBE YOU WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO PLAY HALO 100 OR SOMETHING IDK.
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Posted by Yatzee1000 - Monday, January 12, 2009 3:10 PM

People will still blame the game

oh and @ RROD

dude way to totally be disrespectful and childish on a serious post
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Posted by Sandrock323 - Monday, January 12, 2009 3:18 PM

Did anyone notice the box of Kleenexs next to him?
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Posted by DamienHell - Monday, January 12, 2009 3:48 PM

@RROD
Its amazing how inconsiderate you can be, PEOPLE DIED if your really using that as fodder for your flame war you should be banned and no one here will disagree with me.

When will people learn you can't blame your problems on games.
Flag this comment for review
Posted by N8R - Monday, January 12, 2009 3:50 PM

@Sandrock

When I was that age, it was wise for me to have a box of kleenex at all times too.
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Posted by TwistedBlitzer1 - Monday, January 12, 2009 3:58 PM

Should've used the "Chewbacca Defense!!"
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Posted by Tommytsunami41 - Monday, January 12, 2009 5:31 PM

wow what a moron that kid is! why on earth would you do that kind of thing because you were told not to play video games for a period of time?!? and RedRing looks like you were not as untouchable as you thought seeing as i have yet to notice one of these comments that people are getting mad at you for
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Posted by o_NIGHT_TRAIN_o - Monday, January 12, 2009 10:01 PM

i agree , bad excuse
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Posted by FuzzyLumkins - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:33 AM

Wow. I wonder if he sat down and played some team deathmatch after he shot his parents?
What a sick person, i hope when hes in the slammer he realizes that he killed his real life parents because they wouldn't let him play his alternative reality video game, which really was not all that good.

Kill your parents because they won't let you be with a girl you're crazy about alright, but because of a video game? This is even more ridiculous than the kid who ran away from home because he couldn't play call of duty 4.
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Posted by orangecrow - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 2:43 AM

It's a tough life for a Gangsta
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Posted by fujikoto - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:19 AM

Weak as hell.
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Posted by Silky08 - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:16 AM

Only way to break video game addiction is sex. Because nature is better than virtual.
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Posted by Silky08 - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:20 AM

As for his defense, a more sensible one would be increased aggression towards himself by his parents and his peers. Eventually leading to a psychological defect that made him go kill his two only parents. Just curious about one thing as well, does he have friends? If he did, just go to your friends' house and play.
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Posted by Sandrock323 - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:05 PM

I found the world's dumbest comment ever!!!
"I firmly believe that Daniel Petric had no idea at the time he hatched this plot that if he killed his parents they would be dead forever," Judge James Burge
LOL This one is right up there with the internet is a series of tubes comment.
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Posted by Sandrock323 - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:19 PM

Also, his dad survived, forgave him, and is defending his actions in court. Anyone still surprised he did this?
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Posted by SEPHIROTH111111 - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:29 PM

another tard tries it, another tard fails.
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Posted by davidks1992 - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:36 PM

stupid people who do stupid things, i just want to go beat all of them
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Posted by slash2x - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:56 PM

I wonder if the judge was a gamer? I would love to be that guy. I would have even said "I have been playing more violent games than that sissified bloodless halo and I have yet to kill you for being dumber than your mom could have been. Oh wait she pretended to raise you so I guess she was what caused her own death, with her ignorance"
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Posted by KARIM2097 - Sunday, January 25, 2009 9:30 AM

If the columbine tragedy was the limit it means kids don't want to understand that games are pure entertainment and nothing else but the industry went so mainstream that hot companies like rockstar games prefer go beyond the limits even with hard violent scenes
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