I'm never taking away my kid's video games as punishment ever again!

Ohio teen convicted of killing mom over video game

Monday, January 12, 2009 7:31 PM EST
The Associated Press
By M.R. KROPKO Associated Press Writer

ELYRIA, Ohio (AP) — Although a teenager's obsession with a violent video game may have warped his sense of reality, the boy is guilty of murdering his mother and wounding his father after they took "Halo 3" away from him, a judge ruled Monday.
"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," Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge said.
Nonetheless, Burge rejected the defense attorneys' argument that Petric, 17, was not guilty by reason of insanity.
The defense didn't contest that Petric shot his parents in October 2007 after they took the game away from him, but insisted that the teen's youth and addiction made him less responsible.
Petric may have been addicted, but the evidence also showed he planned the crime for weeks, said Burge, who found the teenager guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and other charges.
Tried as an adult, Petric faces a maximum possible penalty of life in prison without parole. The judge didn't set a sentencing date.
The teen's mother, Susan Petric, 43, died of a gunshot wound to the head. Her husband, Mark Petric, a minister at New Life Assembly of God in Wellington, also was shot in the head but survived.
After the verdict was announced, Petric turned to look at his father seated behind him in the courtroom. Mark Petric, who previously said he has forgiven his son, gave an encouraging nod.
Mark Petric and other relatives left the court without comment.
Prosecutors said Petric planned to kill his parents because he was angry that his father would not allow him to play the video game, in which players shoot alien monsters that have taken over the Earth.
On the night of the shooting, Petric used his father's key to open a lockbox and remove a 9 mm handgun and the game.
Mark Petric testified that his son came into the room and asked: "Would you guys close your eyes? I have a surprise for you." He testified that he expected a pleasant surprise. Then his head went numb from the gunshot.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Anthony Cillo argued during the trial that the teenager had planned to make it appear to be a murder-suicide by putting the gun in his father's hand.
Defense Attorney James Kersey said that when the teenager fled the grisly scene, he only took one item with him: the "Halo 3" game.
A message seeking comment was left Monday with a Los Angeles public relations firm that represents the game maker, Bungie LLC.

bad parenting.....................makes me laugh when shit like that goes down

This tops it.

http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=218634

Talk about irony. His mother was a shrimp, and not just any one but the professor on Institute of Health.

huh.

kid's folks were pentacostals.

Why the hell are they awaiting a message from Bungie? They didn't let an OBVIOUSLY disturbed, ill mannered child play a violent video game? Fucking asshats.

I like how the father was expecting a pleasant surprise. Ha!

some people's kids, man. makes you wonder about people that breed.

~K

there's nothing funny about this. what a sad time we live in.

Maybe we should start donating copies of Halo to the cops. Then they might be able to shoot a little more accurately.

I'd love to see the kid's first day in prison. Bubba asking him "What you in for?" and the kid says "I killed my mom and tried to kill my dad because they took away my videogame."

Well, serves him right, now he'll probably never play a videogame again, but will be ***** in the ass.

Daniel...why do you have that porcupine in your hands?

ELITES!! YOU'RE ALL FUCKING ELITES AHHH

/porcupine stabbing.

You know, it's funny. (Not ha ha funny, more "oh got it hurts my brian funny.)

The defense claimed the kid had diminished responsibility because he was addicted to videogames. If his folks had taken away his drugs, booze or cigs and he had killed them for it they would not even consider it a defense. Hell it could earn him a longer sentence.

+1 on Voltaire.

there's a couple of teachers on another forum i am a member off who said that the essays handed in are becoming quite disturbing for the age groups and number of them.

i don't know about you but on Christmas day while i was doing the rounds visiting friends and family i didn't see one kid out in the streets with a new bike or skateboard like it was when i was a sprog.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by allah

He should have been playing Metroid Prime. Way better game.

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or Camping Tycoon, I enjoyed the whole Tycoon saga.