Ohio teen convicted of killing mom over video game

Truly a sign of the times




ELYRIA, Ohio – 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.
....more.... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090113/ap_on_re_us/pastor_s_wife_slain;_ylt=AlL8OJ_7e.n2VvVWed5hq88DW7oF

Lock him up and throw away the key i don't care if the parents bought the game or the system this kid is demented and i do not believe that the problem was all from the home it was also from playing the game some were else.

Yep yep.... people like that doesn't deserve to have freedom out on the streets. I feel they will end up doing it again if they are free in society..

The kid is definitely mental and doesnt need to be out in public.

Lock him away, at 17 he knows right from wrong and if he doesn't he needs to be put away so he is no danger to anyone else.

Petric will now be Tyrone's pet lets see how he likes that little game