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Halo 3 parent killer was 'addicted' to videogames photo

17-year-old Daniel Petric, who we talked about last week, is currently on trial for the murder of his mother and attempted murder of his father after they banned him from playing Halo 3. After claiming stress and insanity, it seems that the good ol' "videogame defense" is coming into play, as Petric's family puts heavy focus on his game playing habits. 

Daniel's grandfather, Michael Broeckel, claimed that "Danny was very mild and meek," describing him as a normal teenager, but one with a videogame addiction. His sister Holly stated that "He’d just play (video games) nonstop whenever he could," while a friend revealed he and Daniel would play Halo for up to eighteen hours a day. 

Daniel's teenage friend claims that he believes Halo is not the real reason for the murder, citing "tension" between the boy and his father. The father in question, Rev. Marc Petric, has apparently completely forgiven his son for murdering his wife and trying to kill him. The family appears to be sympathizing with Daniel, who they claim is "remorseful."

The defense team has argued that Daniel was insane at first, then claimed he was stressed. Now the defense hinges on the claim that this attack was not premeditated. So far, the usual gang of anti-game lobbyist(s) are yet to jump on the case.


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29 comments | showing # 1 to 29

ZServ's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 10:41
ZServ
another reason halo sucks.
Lockgar's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 10:47
Lockgar
No one wants to believe crazy is just crazy anymore.
garison's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 10:50
garison
That is one disturbing header image.
slapme7times's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 10:50
slapme7times
' Halo for up to eighteen hours a day. '

Hahahaha.... Fucking awesome.
PhazonYoshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 10:55
PhazonYoshi
ZServ, I don't like Halo, but that's a stupid thing to say.

Also, what the FUCK.
Redzie's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 10:55
Redzie
Remember those pricks that play Halo that Jim was referring to a few days ago? Yes, Daniel Petric was one of them.
pd771's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 10:56
pd771
He told his parents to close their eyes because he had a surprise, then shot them. That that away not being premeditated. And I don't remember executing people in Halo... maybe it's the fact the he was freaking crazy more than anything else.
pd771's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 10:58
pd771
He told his parents to close their eyes because he had a surprise, then shot them. That TAKES away THE IDEA OF not being premeditated. And I don't remember executing people in Halo... maybe it's the fact the he was freaking crazy more than anything else.

Fixed that. Having a brain cramp.
Cartman's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 10:59
Cartman
Lol, I LOVED THE CAPTION. People keep complaining that storys like this have nothing to do with video games, but, seriously, these things make my day. People are crazy.
Half left's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 11:03
Half left
The chief never shot his mother in the face. He was abducted by the government as a child and his home planet was later destroyed by the covenant.

THEY shot his mother in the face.
pascuz46's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 11:07
pascuz46
I cant read anymore about this case. It pisses me off way to much.
icarus's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 11:08
icarus
"His sister Holly stated that "He’d just play (video games) nonstop whenever he could," while a friend revealed he and Daniel would play Halo for up to eighteen hours a day."

Yea, it's not like his parents should have thought something was wrong with their kid playing a game for 18 hours a day. It's not like they have the authority to tell him to stop and do something else like read a book or something.

And as far as the father forgiving his kid, he did for selfish reasons. If he blames the kid, then the blame comes full circle back to him for not being a good parent. If he says that he forgives him and blames a game, then in his mind it isn't his fault.
Takeshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 11:10
Takeshi
I'm addicted too but I'd rather commit suicide than kill my parents. Do you know how many games you could buy for the funeral costs?

Did that sound harsh? I don't really care because I didn't shoot my parents and didn't play Halo 3. Which actually means I'm quite an intelligent human being.
zombiekiller13's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 11:14
zombiekiller13
He's crazy. Case closed, send him away.

Plenty of us could be considered to be addicted to games. Hell, how many of you have called out sick just to do a marathon of gaming?

Yet, we don't go out murdering people because of it. Some people are just fucked in the head and happen to like gaming. Games didn't screw them up.
t3h d0n's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 11:23
t3h d0n
epic fail
RunningBlood's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 11:51
RunningBlood
Well, I'm ticked off. Think of all the anti-gaming journalists constantly frothing at the bit for something like this to happen. They're gonna be all over this one.

Losers.
Mr Wrighty 987's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 12:17
Mr Wrighty 987
do u think he camped for a hour before killing them and then teabagged them after?
Takeshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 12:25
Takeshi
@Mr Wrighty 987

I lolled.
RikkuInTheMiddle's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 12:30
RikkuInTheMiddle
He was just an addicted... Too much of anything will lead to things like these.

In Spain, we've got the Katana killer boy, one that all the media said that killing his parents and his little sister was caused by videogames, specially Final Fantasy VIII (WTF?!).

A psycho it's a psycho!
Fleet3000's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 12:37
Fleet3000
"He’d just play (video games) nonstop whenever he could," while a friend revealed he and Daniel would play Halo for up to eighteen hours a day.

hmmm... if he just killed them over them taking halo away from him, what would've happened if his xbox red ringed? how many more people must be killed microsoft? FIX THE PROBLEM.
LaxLuster's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 12:39
LaxLuster
The kid has a defense? For what? You shot your mom, end of story - game over. How many people are going to want to know you after that?

Except daddy, but I'm guessing that he takes the Rev. in front of his name quite seriously.
Zodiac Eclipse's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 13:14
Zodiac Eclipse
I can't think of any activity that a kid should be doing for 18 hours that isn't unhealthy. To me that shows there being something pretty wrong with how this kid was being raised, and his friends parents should take note, since their kid was doing the exact same thing.
Gorelord's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 13:36
Gorelord
im sure we have all thought about shooting dear old mom in the face. i think daniel deserves a pat on the back.
Woocifer's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 13:37
Woocifer
Cut his balls off and let him bleed out. The end.
GameraTheGreat's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 14:11
GameraTheGreat
I want to try to say something funny about this....but can't. Games do not create these acts, but a decline in society as a whole very well may. Kids shouldn't be playing anything that long....and parents need to mind their relationships with their children as seriously as they do with their spouses....bosses...or their God.
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 14:18
Syn
Apparently a friend of mine knew this guy's older sister. And after he shot his mom in the face he ran from the cops and got caught on the corner of the street he lives on.
joemoemino's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/17/2008 16:37
joemoemino
His relationship is tense with his dad, so he kills his mom?

Sure he tried to off them both, but it doesnt matter.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/18/2008 17:27
Dexter345
I guess we should have expected it to get to this point. Lawyers know that the "the game made me do it" defense works.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/18/2008 18:10
Holyetheline
Good thing old Jack Thompson can't practice law anymore or else we'd be hearing a lot more about this and tons more negativity towards games.

Seriously who forgives someone for murdering their wife and trying to murder them. This kids dad is crazy... I guess it'd be a really hard situation though.
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