Parents to sue makers of violent game
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Date posted: 30/07/2004
Posted by: Site Administration
This story is from the category
Legal

LEGAL action is to be taken against Rockstar Games who made Manhunt, a violent, virtual reality immerson level killing game, which is being blamed for inciting a teenager to murder his 14-year-old friend.

Giselle and Patrick Pakeerah, from Leicester, whose son Stefan was stabbed to death, are sueing Rockstar, because the methods used to kill in the gameworld - beating with a claw hammer, and stabbing - were exactly the same as the methods used to kill Stefan.

Obviously then, the company killed him, and not the teenager holding the weapon?

Jack Thompson, a US-based lawyer and campaigner against violent games, is set to take up the legal action after being contacted by Mrs Pakeerah.

He is convinced there is a direct link between games such as Manhunt and the increasing number of teenage killings. In a direct quote:

"Historically, murderers were older. I believe child murderers are the result of stimuli such as computer games breaking down our inhibitions not to kill other people.

"These games are a piece of absolute nonsense and are very dangerous. Manhunt is a public- safety hazard and we are out to destroy Rockstar."

Rockstar meanwhile, are pointing out that Manhunt was clearly labelled as being for a minimum age of 18, and, even if it was played by the killer - which seems to be by no means certain - then it was done so below the safe legal age (could this be parental responsibility rearing its head again?)

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