GTA IV Robbers Get II Years in Prison
GTA IV Robbers Get II Years in Prison
July 15, 2008
Separating a hardcore gamer from the copy of GTA IV that he waited for in a launch line?
Absolutely criminal, said a judge in Great Britain. As reported by the Leyland Guardian, Marc Hughes, 21, and Oliver Aindow, 18, not only stole their victim's copy of the game but also broke his nose and jaw.
So, were these two a couple of violence-crazed gamers who were desperate for their own GTA IV fix?
Hardly. The pair promptly sold the game for cash. As Judge Beverley Lunt told the pair in court:
By your own admission this was a pre-planned robbery. You saw that this shop was opening at midnight to sell this X-Box game. You dressed yourselves in hoods. You deliberately used bushes as cover to stalk your victim and ambush him and for what? For an X-Box game, valued at £40 which you sold for £20.
This is extraodinarily gratuitous violence because the whole thing was conducted in silence. There was no demand for the game to be handed over. It is only at the end when he is lying bleeding, having had his jaw broken and his nose broken that you took the game from his hand.
Judge Lunt sentenced Hughes and Aindow to two years each.
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Posted 08/21/08 at 03:03pm
Talouin: @ZippyDSMlee: Yea, that game has a really high learning curve fun when you got the hang of it but the SE developers need a kick
Talouin: @ZippyDSMlee: Yea, that game has a really high learning curve fun when you got the hang of it but the SE developers need a kick
Posted 08/21/08 at 02:45pm
ZippyDSMlee: Talouin:I quit FF11 3 months after I started, is a horrible game from top to bottom.
ZippyDSMlee: Talouin:I quit FF11 3 months after I started, is a horrible game from top to bottom.
Posted 08/21/08 at 02:28pm
Talouin: @SimonBob: I have never been happier I quit FFXI last month until now.
Talouin: @SimonBob: I have never been happier I quit FFXI last month until now.
Posted 08/21/08 at 01:59pm
ZippyDSMlee: Boyycotting only works when sheeple care, the masses have to want to care about subtleties, in general they do not thus why corporate gets as far as it does. However boycotting can raise a fuss and the bad PR might make them take note.
ZippyDSMlee: Boyycotting only works when sheeple care, the masses have to want to care about subtleties, in general they do not thus why corporate gets as far as it does. However boycotting can raise a fuss and the bad PR might make them take note.
Posted 08/21/08 at 01:20pm
SimonBob: There's a full explanation of the FFXI PW fight up: http://rukenshin.livejournal.com/17133.html
SimonBob: There's a full explanation of the FFXI PW fight up: http://rukenshin.livejournal.com/17133.html
Posted 08/21/08 at 01:16pm
Talouin: @Quander, That fight is brand spanking new. People just don't know how to do it yet.
Talouin: @Quander, That fight is brand spanking new. People just don't know how to do it yet.
Posted 08/21/08 at 01:06pm
AM: @GP: Boycott is unlikely to be effective due to how few people would be aware/participate. That said, I boycott EA over their "3 installs then buy another copy" copy protection, so I can't say it's NOT a good idea.
AM: @GP: Boycott is unlikely to be effective due to how few people would be aware/participate. That said, I boycott EA over their "3 installs then buy another copy" copy protection, so I can't say it's NOT a good idea.
Posted 08/21/08 at 01:06pm
GryphonOsiris: @Scribe, just read that. The reports are saying that is was a targeted killing. Odds are a bully, gang related or something.
GryphonOsiris: @Scribe, just read that. The reports are saying that is was a targeted killing. Odds are a bully, gang related or something.
Posted 08/21/08 at 01:03pm
SimonBob: I just glanced over some of the companies' game lists; turns out I was already boycotting three of them anyway.
SimonBob: I just glanced over some of the companies' game lists; turns out I was already boycotting three of them anyway.
Posted 08/21/08 at 12:53pm
DarkTetsuya: @scribe999 yeah I heard about that, and I *thought* I saw a vulture circling the area...
DarkTetsuya: @scribe999 yeah I heard about that, and I *thought* I saw a vulture circling the area...
Posted 08/21/08 at 12:53pm
DarkTetsuya: @scribe999 yeah I heard about that, and I *thought* I saw a vulture circling the area...
DarkTetsuya: @scribe999 yeah I heard about that, and I *thought* I saw a vulture circling the area...
Posted 08/21/08 at 12:36pm
gamepolitics: is a gamer boycott of atari, codemasters, topware and the other 2 UK firms who are extorting file-sharers a good idea?
gamepolitics: is a gamer boycott of atari, codemasters, topware and the other 2 UK firms who are extorting file-sharers a good idea?
Posted 08/21/08 at 12:19pm
scribe999: Another school shooting...this time in Tennessee. Terrible news. And I'm sure there's much hyperbole to follow.
scribe999: Another school shooting...this time in Tennessee. Terrible news. And I'm sure there's much hyperbole to follow.
Posted 08/21/08 at 12:10pm
sortableturnip: hehehe ;)
sortableturnip: hehehe ;)
Posted 08/21/08 at 12:09pm
DarkTetsuya: @sortableturnip I'm totally putting what you said as my sig :P thanks!
DarkTetsuya: @sortableturnip I'm totally putting what you said as my sig :P thanks!
Posted 08/21/08 at 12:02pm
sortableturnip: OMG JT speaking in front of another BS group: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2007/09/04/ pardon-our-appearance.aspx?pg=2 &view=threaded
sortableturnip: OMG JT speaking in front of another BS group: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2007/09/04/ pardon-our-appearance.aspx?pg=2 &view=threaded
Posted 08/21/08 at 11:50am
Neeneko: @Quander - I"m not all that familiar with FFXI, but maybe this mob just requires more gank? or there is a trick? larger group?
Neeneko: @Quander - I"m not all that familiar with FFXI, but maybe this mob just requires more gank? or there is a trick? larger group?
Posted 08/21/08 at 07:54am
sortableturnip: The "smoking gun" is the Florida Bar dropping its insurance coverage from Nationwide
sortableturnip: The "smoking gun" is the Florida Bar dropping its insurance coverage from Nationwide
Posted 08/20/08 at 05:19pm
jccalhoun: it would be interesting to hire a detective to investigae Jacko and find out his "smoking gun"
jccalhoun: it would be interesting to hire a detective to investigae Jacko and find out his "smoking gun"
Posted 08/20/08 at 03:18pm
sortableturnip: That guild forgot to pick up the "Sword of 1000 Truths" b4 engaging the mob ;)
sortableturnip: That guild forgot to pick up the "Sword of 1000 Truths" b4 engaging the mob ;)
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
THis is oen of those incidences that seems to make the anti gamer arguments fall apart
I mean, if we gamers were even half the blood-crazed psychopaths that the critics are convinced we are, it would be the mugger, not the victim, that would have been lying in a bloodied, mangled heap.
Nonsense! These innocent young men were out for an invigorating midnight stroll and without warning they were infected with the nightmare spores emitted by GTA and suddenly became a professional pre-meditated violent assault team, THE LIKE OF WHICH YOU SEE IN VIDEO GAMES!!!!
Sorry, I think I was posessed by the ghost of jack thompson there. What? He's not dead? Oh, it must have been the ghost of his career...
Don't worry, it's happened to me before too.
2 years each for robbery and assault? That seems a bit low to me.
Not really. It's only petty theft, which usually is just community service. And the assault didn't get the guy damaged permanently, nor I assume did it cause him too much mental anguish.
2 years seems about right.
Oh, so it's ok that they handed the guy a beatdown but only stole his game. I understand now.
You've never had a broken jaw i take it?
When I first read the title of this story, I was like, "Alright, Eleven Years! Put those Assholes away!" But, alas, it was only 2. Once a criminal, always a criminal, in my opinion. I wish there would be steeply harsher punishments for things like theft, assault, and robbery. 10 to 15 years at the very least, depending on the seriousness of the crime. I mean, jesus, you know things are too lenient when KILLING somebody will sometimes only get you 10 years. I say, make a character judgement, and if they seem like an asshole, put them away!
Like the girl that killed her little sister and is getting 18 years or 6 years of special help....That pisses me off like no other.
And yeah, assualting a guy, BREAKING HIS JAW, stealing his game, then leaving. That should be 5 years minimum
I don't know if you heard, but our prisons are full.
~You Could Be Mine, But You're Way Out Of Line..~
All the more reason to start executing more criminals, and not just for murdering multiple people.
Because everyone who ever commits a crime is always a hardened criminal for the rest of their life. Always for ever. because no one has ever deserved a second chance. because the ''get tough" attitude is always so effective in preventing crime. because crime is never motivated by poverty, and is always just because the crimˆnals are evil people.
Crime motivated by poverty should never be an excuse, and anyone caught committing a crime motivated by poverty should be given the same treatment as anyone who commits a crime for any other reason. Regardless of the person's current state of life, the commission of a crime is ALWAYS a choice, and if you make the WRONG choice, you should be punished severely for it.
I'm pretty sure we already don't allow poverty as an excuse man, they are punished for their crimes. But saying you should execute a guy for stealing a loaf of bread is totally asanine (just an example I know no one said it...).
That analogy being completely unrelated to the topic at hand aside, these guys probably weren't poverty stricken at all, they probably just wanted a few extra bucks because thier mommy's didn't want to give it to them. Throw the book at them!
Or we can make posession of drugs a crime that doesn't get you thrown in jail or better yet legalize some of the lesser drugs (like marijuana). That would REALLY help the problem.
No mental aguish? When broke my jaw I couldn't eat solid food for over 2 weeks. Belive me its not fun
Well the uk is a nanny state and all so its not surprising.
(And yes before anyone asks. I do live in the uk.)
Wouldnt this be considered premeditated? Isn't that a much bigger punishment? 2 years? They viciously attacked a man with the intention to kill, and for a very stupid reason. That should be a felony with 10+ years at the least.
Intent to kill? Where does it say that?
It didn't say intent to kill, but the robbery could've easily been a murder if the robbers hit the guy harder or something, which would become murder. I agree though, a lot more than 2 years
Those guys were not bright. Severely hurting a man and selling the game for half its worth? Stupid. Sounds like they've gotten what they deserve.
They should have gotten ten years each for what they did.
AS a uk resident, let me be clear on this one.
THIS is why people are violent.
Not because of a 'video game' like GTAIV. THIS.
and by 'THIS', i mean the fact that TWO men (and lets not pretend they were anything but fully grown adults) attacked one other man (cowards cant even fight fair) by jumping him, breaking his nose and jaw ( i cant even imagine how painful that is, and not to mention distressing to be left bleeding on the floor) fora £20 profit. ....And they get.. just... 2 years...
WTF?
and in the uk commonly sentences under 4 years are cut to two thirds in reality.. so two years means approximately 15 months or so.
You think the victim will be over it in 15 months? dont think so. I know if it was me who got attacked id be pretty shaken by it, not to mention both physically and emotionally damaged. yet in 15 months, they will be out to do it all over again. Absolutely ridiculous that two men can gang up on a victim, cause Grevious bodily harm, and get such little time in Jail.
Why the hell should ppl like this want to stop? I mean, lets not kid ourselves, This was the first time these two were caught doing it. who knows how many other people they have attacked and robbed/beaten up. If they can make a quick buck doing things like this with the equivalent of only a severe telling off if they get caught, why on EARTH are they going to stop.
For gods sake England. Treat these guys like the criminals they are.
I cant understand how they didnt get at least 5 years each. I mean they didnt even ask for the game. Just attacked him. no demands or anything. violence just for the sake of violence. absolutely bl*** ridiculous that that factor alone didnt add 2 years onto the sentence. it was calculated, malicious and just plain wrong.
Totally agree with your post. But one question.. What does bl*** represent? Bloody? Being from america, I guess I never saw that as a censorable word, lol.. I was just curious.
lol yeah :D
guess in england its more of a cuss word than USA! hehe
I completely agree with this post. Congratz, you win a cookie
Have you ever been in jail? I used to work in one, and it's a lot worse than ''sever telling off to be in one for any length of time over half a year.
As a UK Citizen, I totally agree, and even more sickening is the fact that there are people who have gone out, got drunk and killed little children while behind the wheel of a car, that have spent even less time behind bars than these two men.
If there is no effective punishment, crime will rise. Simple as that.
Ok so my question is did they get such a rediculously light sentence because they were stupid or is it that they attacked a "vicious" gamer who obviously would have gone on a killing spree after playing the game, so they did society a service?
-Loudspeaker
"Volume helps to get a point across but sharp teeth are better."
Good call by the court, though I wish the press would report this stuff correctly. This was yet another case where (popular and in demand item) was stolen to sell for cash. That's it. Whether the item is a CD, DVD, game, Pokemon cards, wallet, watch, mobile phone, TV, game console, jewellery, a car, stereo or whatever else, it's the same crime. The press seems to think that the fact it was a copy of GTA4 somehow makes it a different crime, this is simply not so.
@NovaBlack: At least the thugs were actually caught in this case. I moved from the UK to Spain a few years ago, and I work in Gibraltar. Every year, gitanos (local gypsy/chavs) attack people coming across the border after dark, be it from a night out or on their way to work. 20 attacks so far this year, including myself, and the local Spanish police won't lift a finger because most people attacked haven't got full residential paperwork and so are classed as tourists. It's mostly a good area and very safe, but you have to watch the border area after dark, for no other reason than some thugs aren't getting dealt with.
Maybe the sentence was too light for these idiots, but at least something was done.
Lol...I read a story once about an 8-year-old that held an airsoft gun to a smaller kid's head to rob him of (I think it was) Pokemon cards...
Holy shit the 8 year kid held a air soft gun to a smaller kid's head?!
I would have just beaten the smaller kid and stolen the pokemon cards, less controversy I'm guessing
They reported that story here on gamepolitics. Oh and it was a 10 year old.
http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/02/09/pokemon-first-seizures-now-armed-...
Deport them to Australia, thats what its there for.
Just throw them on an island and make them fight to the death. We're still developing, damnit.
Seriously? Everyone is acting like 2 years of jail time is something to sneeze at. Think about it. 2 white boys, barely adults, sitting in prison. They're very likely to get raped at least once, or beaten at least. And only for 20 pounds. Would you be willing to trade 2 years of your life for another 20 pounds?
If so, you have serious problems.
Not too sure if your comment was aimed at everyone saying 2 years is too short or the 2 kids that fucked themselves up for 20 euros.
Well its not just the 40 euro game that gave them a 2 year sentece, it was the beating of the owner.
Don't go having fantasies of white kids getting raped in prison sir
I agree. The ''get tough''' attitude towards crime really actually doesn't work that well. Plus, prison is a pretty shitt place. Two years is apretty bad punishment.
I'd give them a 90% chance that once they are released, they commit another equally violent crime within 6 months. Criminals almost NEVER change thier ways. The only thing that they will feel walking out of that place is Bitterness and anger at society, which will just perpetuate the problem.
Do you have a source that criminals never change their ways or what?
No offense or anything but I have a hard time believing you (and personal accounts does not qualify as a source).
Its called "Open your Eyes" Just observe the world around you. It takes a special mindset to commit a crime AT ALL, and that mindset doesn't change after spending time in prison. Something like 60% or so of inmates in prison are repeat offenders. Like I said, Once an asshole, always an asshole.
So smoking a joint makes you an asshole? People are in prison for things that shouldn't be crimes. Statistics like that are meaningless.
Lol, if you think smoking a joint shouldnt be a criminal offence, what about crack/cocaine, heroine, or Meth? Because 75% of the people I've known who have smoked Pot have moved on to those, including 3 of my friends who have DIED, since. Doing any drug is stupid as hell, and they should all be illegal.
Severly inefficient criminals, those two. Kinda reminds me of a quote from The Simpsons. "A house? For that I gotta kill a lot of people!"
Good. These dorks got what they deserve. Now if only our President would. sigh.
Here's hoping when they get out they try this again with a baddass who beats their bitch asses so bad they end up paralyzed from the waist down and then they go to prison for 5 more years. Fuckers.
-Entertainment isn't the reason the world sucks. It's the reason we know the world sucks. For information on games and psychology, look up: Jonathan Freedman(2002)Block & Crain(2007)Grand Theft Childhood, by Harvard researchers Larry Kutner&Cheryl Olson
Haha, Im a terrible person for saying this, But paralysis from the waist down and prison time doesn't seem like too bad of a punishment. At least they wont be able to feel bubba when hes got them bent over his bunk!
In the UK it would be the person who beat them who ended up in prison.
So in the UK if someone breaks your nose and jaw and steals your shit you have to sit there and take it?
2 years? They'll be out in time for Christmas then.
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