"Video Games Made Me Do It" Defense Raised in Oregon Murder Trial
"Video Games Made Me Do It" Defense Raised in Oregon Murder Trial
February 28, 2007
A T.V. news station in Oregon reports that violent video games have been raised by the defense as a mitigating factor in the murder trial of a 20-year old man.Details are sketchy, but according to NBC affiliate KOBI-5:
A defense attorney says that violent video games may have helped set the stage for a murder in Klamath Falls (as) opening arguments were heard in the trial of twenty-year-old Patrick Morris.
Morris is charged with the murder of fifteen-year-old Diego Aguilar. Aguilar, died after being shot five times with a twelve-gauge shotgun...
The attorney for the defense says that violent video games such as 'Mortal Kombat' and 'Grand Theft Auto' may have blurred Morris' ability to distinguish reality and the consequences of his actions.
Despite the defense contention that video games were an influence, KOBI-5 says prosecutors allege that Morris sought revenge because Aguilar ripped him off in a drug deal.
Defense attorney Robert Abel told the Associated Press that his client had a diminished mental capacity at the time of the shooting:
Basically what we're asking for is a sentence less than the murder sentence.
GP has no additional information regarding the video game defense issue at this point. In 2005, a judge in Fayette, Alabama, declined to allow video game testimony in the trial of so-called GTA killer Devin Moore, since convicted of the murder of two police officers and a police dispatcher.
The non-jury trial is expected to last four days.
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Posted 07/06/08 at 01:57pm
BlackIce: It might be just a bit too late now.
BlackIce: It might be just a bit too late now.
Posted 07/06/08 at 12:07pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: Jack, Jack, Jack... When will you learn?
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: Jack, Jack, Jack... When will you learn?
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:38am
tallimar: hmm... youre right, im not getting the right mind frame... "YOU WILL LIKE FRIES WITH THAT!" how's that?
tallimar: hmm... youre right, im not getting the right mind frame... "YOU WILL LIKE FRIES WITH THAT!" how's that?
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:36am
gameman9: Nah, he will just scare the customers.
gameman9: Nah, he will just scare the customers.
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:35am
tallimar: i think jack's new line may end up being "would you like fries with that?"
tallimar: i think jack's new line may end up being "would you like fries with that?"
Posted 07/06/08 at 11:00am
Adamas Draconis: His fave line. Always thought it should be "They've got me right where I want them."
Adamas Draconis: His fave line. Always thought it should be "They've got me right where I want them."
Posted 07/06/08 at 10:43am
gamepolitics: he's got 'em right where he wants 'em,LOL
gamepolitics: he's got 'em right where he wants 'em,LOL
Posted 07/06/08 at 10:30am
Silencets: It was a great idea. Just another step in the overarcing master plan off JT...we little people wouldn't understand....
Silencets: It was a great idea. Just another step in the overarcing master plan off JT...we little people wouldn't understand....
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:35am
Jack Wessels: Yeah I knew that part. I'm just amazed at whatever thought process led him to think that was a good idea.
Jack Wessels: Yeah I knew that part. I'm just amazed at whatever thought process led him to think that was a good idea.
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:33am
gamepolitics: actually, he also sent similar material to the FL Supreme Court about 6 months before that
gamepolitics: actually, he also sent similar material to the FL Supreme Court about 6 months before that
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:24am
Jack Wessels: for him and would somehow get Kent in trouble.
Jack Wessels: for him and would somehow get Kent in trouble.
Posted 07/06/08 at 08:23am
Jack Wessels: @GP: Wow, I've skimmed that one before, but I never noticed that JT actually thought this was good news....
Jack Wessels: @GP: Wow, I've skimmed that one before, but I never noticed that JT actually thought this was good news....
Posted 07/06/08 at 04:40am
gamepolitics: eraser: see our original story on that:http://tinyurl.com/6nm9oe
gamepolitics: eraser: see our original story on that:http://tinyurl.com/6nm9oe
Posted 07/06/08 at 12:21am
infect999: because he's an idiot
infect999: because he's an idiot
Posted 07/05/08 at 11:41pm
eraserheadthelynch: why did he send gay porn to the judges?
eraserheadthelynch: why did he send gay porn to the judges?
Posted 07/05/08 at 10:44pm
Jack Wessels: @Silencets: Maybe it'll come to JT soon too, so he can finally complete that show cause order....
Jack Wessels: @Silencets: Maybe it'll come to JT soon too, so he can finally complete that show cause order....
Posted 07/05/08 at 04:30pm
Jose_Pedro_Ramirez: No one believed that the ice at the North Pole would ever melt, but...
Jose_Pedro_Ramirez: No one believed that the ice at the North Pole would ever melt, but...
Posted 07/05/08 at 04:28pm
Haggard: Maybe he thought the judges would appreciate it?
Haggard: Maybe he thought the judges would appreciate it?
Posted 07/05/08 at 03:27pm
Silencets: I'm sure JT had a perfectly good reason sending gay porn....It'll come to me any day now...
Silencets: I'm sure JT had a perfectly good reason sending gay porn....It'll come to me any day now...
Posted 07/05/08 at 02:54pm
Grendal: once you send gay porn to judges, I'm comfortable calling you crazy
Grendal: once you send gay porn to judges, I'm comfortable calling you crazy
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Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
And seriouslly if you can't distinguish reality from fantasy u r fcuked up.
Claim we didn't know of the severity of our actions. After all, we thought they had an "extra life".
In a video game, i press a button on either a mouse or a controller. This button in no way shape or form will teach me to fire a weapon. I can not learn how to handle a weapon or shoot it by playing a game. It just doesnt happen.
A kid that goes hunting with his father has more motive/skill to shoot a gun than a gamer ever will. Im surprised they are not using hunting as an excuse. Oh wait, thats beacuse its never an issue. No kid that has had a hunting backround has ever done a crime like shoot someone. (at least not when they are young.)
When will people learn? Everyone here smells the bullshit, but its hard to get the turth through thick skulls. At least our judges are smart enough to keep this talk of ignorance out of the law books. It just amazes me that its lasted this long, and continues to persist. Oh, then i remember, this country is plauged with stupid people. Oy.
If, after committing the murder, the murderer teabagged the victim, then I'd be convinced.
(If anyone already said this I'm sorry for repeating it didn't feel like reading all the posts on this topic. Also that comment was sarcasm)
So when i do gramatical or speling erors. ima blame it on the utensile i use.
This defense is sounding kind of like the insanity plea. Say it so that you can get out of being held responsible for your crimes.
and didn't jax arms become guns for a fatality finish?
it has been YEARS since i have seen the game played
not sure how the police work in these kind of cases, but if he was checked out for drugs after he was arrested, the police may already know that he wasn't on drugs at the time of the murder. If the police are already sure he wasn't drugged up then the defence would be beaten instantly...
However, if the police did not check him right afterward and thus are not certain whether or not he was drugged up at the time... then the lawer is a complete idiot for thinking that lying "video-games made me do it" was a better defence then lying that "the drugs made me do it"... seirosuly, if your gonna lie you should atleast make it a believable one
One question though is how long will it take before JT claims GTA is somehow involved with Tew and his client? Not long, I'd guess.
I rape people, porn makes me do that, I drive extremely fast, car commercials make me do that, people randomly wake up with me next to them trying to feed them, Burger King makes me do that, and what about movies? why do people blame somthing that is totally fake movies are more "believable" if you will.
http://biz.yahoo.com/law/070228/3211a069be4c855e462ee3d8c078b504.html?.v...
FOr those who don't know, it was a long while ago in a case where someoen shot up a postal office. The defense claimed that the twinkie's sugar content caused diminished mental capacity. Sound familiar?
sad part is, back then, it worked.
Now no offense, but this guy had a shotgun, and shot a kid, 5 times...with a shotgun.
...that's a bit to soak into the brain.
Temporary insanity? Is that what this guy is arguing? Also since when did mortal kombat ever feature firearms?
The defendant, Patrick Morris, waived his right to a jury trial. He did this with counsel, so I assume there is nothing foul afoot, but that was the odd thing about this case in my mind as well.
Honestly if the guy had been playing video games, he might not get out and really shoot someone, as he'd be taking out his frustrations in the game.
Nice :)
I can so see this guy's green life bar going down after this plea. "I don't think that won me any points with the judge..."
Don't forget the followup:
*one juror's head vibrates then explodes trying to process that logic...*
couldn't resist.
The drug thing is probably going to be what will doom him.
Judge: You've been doing mushrooms that make you hallucinate?
Defendant: Yes.
Judge: But you say it was violent video games made you kill this child?
Defendant: Yes.
Judge: Are you sure you're not on those mushrooms now?
Defendant: ...
nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Judge: Which video game are you talking about specifically?
Uh, the one in which you rob banks I guess?
Judge: You guys just happened to have a couple of ski masks, trash bags, and firearms with you?
Yeah, talk about coinidinck, huh?
Judge: You guys also reportedly knocked over three other banks within the last few months as well?
Yeah, those video games just keep messing with my head. It seems like everytime I pass a bank I gotta run in and ask for some money.
Judge: This doesn't have anything to do with the fact that you reportedly owe a local mob boss over a hundred thousand dollars as well?
Oh yeah, that motivated me to do it but just a little bit. It was mainly the video games though.
(Whispers to lawyer)
Oh yeah, my attorney would like me to say that he's been on TV so you better not rule against him otherwise he might have to expose the huge payments you've recieved in secret from the video games industry.
"The guy was both on, and distributing, drugs, and they STILL go after the video games?"
No, the defense lawyer WANTS them to go after the video games, because then he can argue diminshed capacity. This is still the pre-trial, we'll see if the judge buys it.
What makes people think that they can get away with murder if they just say that video games made them do it? And what ever happened to evidence? The guy was both on, and distributing, drugs, and they STILL go after the video games?
What I mean is, my lawyer told me to try it. Can't hurt right? The luck of the draw means *eventually* some judge is going to fall for it...
It's a non-jury trial. The judge will be the sole decider if he is guilty or innocent. In that case, the judge will decide if he is guilty and deserving of the death penalty or if he is guilty and deserving of something less than the death penalty because "violent video games such as ‘Mortal Kombat’ and ‘Grand Theft Auto’ may have blurred Morris’ ability to distinguish reality and the consequences of his actions".
How much of a blurred ability to distinguish reality do you need to have to confuse the fact that shooting someone five times with a shotgun will kill him? If video-games are so infecting it's a wonder we don't see more people shooting others with a shotgun at least one time.
So basically, the defense lawyer saying he wants a diminished sentence because of the videogames is also saying "he would have still went after him but would have shot him once if not for videogames!".
Man I climb walls everyday.
@Article
Since when did punishment for a crime have to do with the why?
There are a hell of a lot of things that "blurred reality" can cause kids to do- most of them easier and more impulsive than shooting people.
Of course it was an accident. GTA made him hold down the trigger button. The gun magically ejected each shell and put a new one into the action.
"According to the prosecutor Morris was angry and intended to kill Aguilar after he discovered the diamond he had received in a trade for hallucinogenic mushrooms was a fake."
I just love how Video Games seem to have "blurred Morris’ ability to distinguish reality and the consequences of his actions" instead of the "hallucinogenic mushrooms" he was messing with.
Cause and effect. Aguilar also died from falling on the ground and bleeding to death, not the 5 shots that Morris put into him, right?
five times.
there's no way this guy is anything but a murderer.
Wow, these games are amazing!
The TRUTH was that the game was owned by the 14 year old victim, AND the TRUTH was that the killer was a drug taker trying to get more money for his next fix...
This case isn't about finding the truth, it's about trying to get a killer off the hook and possible make some money down the line by suing a few games companies!
I don't know why but I keep wanting to make a really tasteless comment about the "Aguilar, died after being shot five times with a twelve-gauge shotgun…".
Sorry, but these defences reek of 'A Big Boy did it and ran away!' type defences.
It's simply not an excuse, millions of people play computer games every day and don't go out and commit a crime, if someone has a problem distinguishing between reality and fantasy, that is down to their own brain, and, as Frank Zappa stated, someone with those kind of issues could have just as easily been set off by other stimulus.
Sounds to me more like a desperate grab to shift blame than an actual defence.
I wonder how many cases "way back when" were tried and used violent imagery in novels as a defence.
This line says it all: "Basically what we’re asking for is a sentence less than the murder sentence." He killed someone; he deserve full allowable punishment. Period.
haha, very funny! I read the Bible and that's WHY I turned athiest. If you read it you will notice how everything sounds like a fairy tale. How did they know that God said "let there be lilght." How did God even say that??? Did he invent a language while somehow existing in a place that hasn't even been created yet!?
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