"Halo Killer" Petric convicted of murdering mother [Update]
Update: Our wires got crossed with this tragic story, Petric was only found guilty, he has yet to be sentenced for his crime.
A verdict has been reached in the trial of a teen dubbed the "Halo Killer" and a Judge's anti-games comments, documented by GamePolitics, are now making the rounds across the Internet. Seventeen year-old Daniel Petric of Ohio, has been found guilty of shooting both of his parents, which led to the death of his mother., and has been sentenced to life in prison. A sentencing date has yet to be announced. Petric, who was tried as an adult, faces a maximum possible penalty of life in prison without parole.
As we previously reported, the defense in the case attempted to lay blame for the shooting at the feet of stress and an addiction to the video game series, Halo. According to testimony, Petric committed the horrific crime soon after his parents took away his copy of Halo 3, a Mature rated title, after they had previously refused the then 15-year-old to play the game.
Proceeding Judge James Burge told the courtroom, "It's my firm belief as a human being - and not as a jurist - that Daniel does suffer from a serious defect of the mind." Judge Burge stated that the defense failed to prove Petric was insane during the act, forcing the court to find the teen guilty.
Burge went on to explain that "not enough is known" about video games and that someone, with as fragile a mind as Petric, could not differentiate between a fantasy world presented in a game like Halo 3 and the real world. "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," the Judge stated.
We're not experts but it seems that, throughout history, anyone mentally imbalanced will attempt to lay blame on any type of media or product, if it means they do not have to take blame for their own actions. It's a tragic story and our thoughts go out to the remaining Petric family.
