I came across a news story yesterday, which mentions the case of a young man who has been sentenced to death in Alabama in the US after murdering 3 policemen. Almost unthinkably, the defendant attempted to use a defence based on influence exerted on him by playing computer games, apparently Grand Theft Auto 3 chiefly among them.
Aside: Grand Theft Auto is a game wherein the player takes part in criminal activity generally involving homicide, gun crime and vehicular rampage in order to further his position within the gang system inherent in the game.
Of course, as an occasional and one-time frequent computer game player, I have never killed anyone nor considered it right to do so based on what I'd seen on the monitor in front of me. (no doubt many of you are relieved....) Nor indeed on things seen on the television, or even read (heavens forbid) in books, and the books can be worse than the computer games and telly.
I'm glad (but also gladly unaffected) by the decision of the court in this case not to accept that defence. Naturally I'm saddened at the sentence (it being capital in this case) but if a defence like that were to become legal precedent we'd be in awful trouble.
Interestingly, the family of the defendant in this case is pursuing the creators and vendors of the game in a civil action. We should watch that space.
Aside: Grand Theft Auto is a game wherein the player takes part in criminal activity generally involving homicide, gun crime and vehicular rampage in order to further his position within the gang system inherent in the game.
Of course, as an occasional and one-time frequent computer game player, I have never killed anyone nor considered it right to do so based on what I'd seen on the monitor in front of me. (no doubt many of you are relieved....) Nor indeed on things seen on the television, or even read (heavens forbid) in books, and the books can be worse than the computer games and telly.
I'm glad (but also gladly unaffected) by the decision of the court in this case not to accept that defence. Naturally I'm saddened at the sentence (it being capital in this case) but if a defence like that were to become legal precedent we'd be in awful trouble.
Interestingly, the family of the defendant in this case is pursuing the creators and vendors of the game in a civil action. We should watch that space.
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