Jeb+Hanock+2B

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 * __THE TRUE PRICE OF A VIDEO GAME: THE PETRIC FAMILY STORY__**

In October of 2007 17 year old Daniel Petric let his addiction to the game "Halo 3" overtake his mind when he shot both his father and mother in the head with his fathers 9mm handgun. The videogame was taken from him and locked away with the 9mm and when Petric obtained the key he took revenge against his parents. Susan Petric, his mother, died from the shot, while his father, Mark Petric, survived. Petric was convicted of multiple charges including aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder.

 The defendant's attorney, James Kersey, did not deny that his client shot his parents. There was too much evidence to negate that claim, but he did plead that the crime was committed out of insanity and addiction to the video game. The argument was one of little effect and one that the prosecutor easily discredited.

Prosecutor, Anthony Cillo, replied to these remarks by proving that Petric had been planning the murder, and was therefore could not plead insanity. If the act had been spontaneous then insanity would have been a possible reason for the act. Cillo also pointed out the fact that the 17 year old boy attempted to make this look like a murder suicide. He painted a chilling picture of a cold-hearted and cruel individual who killed his mother and attempted murder against his father in revenge for a petty punishment.



January of 2009, Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge surprised prosecutors found 17 year old Petric guilty of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder while excluding the life sentence charge. The ruling the prosecutor wanted was a life sentence, but Judge Burge ruled a 23 year sentence with a possible parole due to the pleading of insanity by the defendant.

I believe that Daniel Petric completely deserves the sentence he recieved, if anything, his sentence should be more severe. The proof of planning this murder that the prosecutor supplied reveals that he was not insane, this was not an accident, and Petric is a severely cruel and cold individual. To kill your parents over a videogame you have to be a twisted human being. I believe that the fact that the defndant was only 17 helped him, and the judge let him off easy. If he had been an adult he would have definitely recieved a life sentence.

As a youth one is tried in a differet court, convicted in different ways, and held at different facilities. However, your age does not change the crime you have committed. I beleive that all people of a stable conscious shou;d be tried the same way. That's not to say that soem shouldn't be tried differently, but thats really what i hate about the court system. Our court system destroys all morals and only proplongs the suffering and shame brought to a victim and the accused.

__Documents__

__Images__
 * Associated press of Fox News. //Ohio teen convicted of killing mother over video game.// Retrieved November 12, 2009 from []
 * Kropko, M.R. //Ohio teen convicted of killing mom over video game.// Retrieved November 12, 2009 from []
 * Mark and Susan Petric. Retrieved from []
 * Halo 3. Retrieved from []
 * Daniel Petric. Retrieved from []