Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

October 17, 2008 -

We don't know the full context, but the popular Halo series was mentioned at the trial of a man charged with killing four people and badly injuring several others during during a 2005 escape and rampage in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's coverage of the Brian Nichols trial notes that Army Sgt. Charlie Maurice Sellers, a longtime friend of Nichols, testified:

"[Nichols and his friends] liked to play that Halo video game,” said Nichols’ friend Army Sgt. Charlie Maurice Sellers. Halo is a science-fiction video game that is premised on rebellion and civil war. “The object is … to see who can get the most kills,” Sellers said.

The case generated national publicity. Ashley Smith, a woman kidnapped by Nichols, was eventually credited with helping police capture him.

Nichols is 36.


Comments

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

There is a civil war in the Halo universe, but it's just a back story, portrayed only in the books.


Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

I don't know, it seemed to play a big part of the 3rd game, the whole brutes vs elites thing.

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

Two different rebellions. There was a human civil war before the Covenant war broke out. Then there was the Covenant civil war in the games.

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

There was never an actual human civil war beyond a few small rouge groups and small rebellions.

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

Technically, part of the story in Halo 2 DOES center around division among the Covenant, with the Elites breaking off.

But for the most part, yeah- the douche doesn't know what he's talking about.

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

Before JT can even rear his ugly head in here:

1)  the man had been in jail since 2004

2)  he was not underage

3)  He has a history of violent crime.  Prior to this incident, in 2004, he was charged with rape, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated sodomy, burglary, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm during commission of a crime after a brutal assault of his former girlfriend of 8 years after their break up. Nichols forced his way into her home, bound her with duct tape at gun point and raped her.

4)  His attorney is offering the insanity plea.

Halo had nothing to do with this crime...NOTHING.

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

That is his history and they are going for insanity?  I think he would have a better case if his defense was, "It is because I'm black isn't it.  That is the only reason you guys are trying to put me in jail."

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Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

Supposedly, he snapped and went into a dissociative state before going on that court house rampage.

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

' “The object is … to see who can get the most kills,”

 

 

see.. WHY say something like that when in your brain you KNOW.. (and lets not pretend otherwise , you 100% KNOW) that you are making a statement about something that you have totally made up and have no idea wether its true or not?

 

that statement is just 100% WRONG. that is NOT the 'object' (i think you mean objective) of halo.

 

i REALLY get tired of idiots saying things when they actually KNOW they are outright lying / have absolutely no factual basis other than the 'science' of 'guesstimation'.

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

well it is 50% wrong at least.

the MP modes, like any game with MP, pretty much have that objective.

 

and since halo is more wll known for its MP, its probably what the idgit is referring to, having never seen the SP campaign, and the games actual objectives, but merely assumed that the two were one and the same (MP/SP)

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

He played Halo?! That gotta be the reason for his doings, Ashley Smith better sue Microsoft and Bungie.

Why are there always theese retarded relatives who mention how someone used to play some videogame, is that really what they remember when they think of that person, is that really what they think was the reason for what happened?

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

Army Sergeant? There's your problem right there. What would he know about killing? Plus, he's bashing a game about Marines. Sounds jealous.

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

How is he "bashing"?

 
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TechnogeekIf the developer were male there wouldn't have been a "conversation" in the first place.10/19/2014 - 2:27am
Montetrolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm
MontePapa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm
Papa MidnightMonte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm
AvalongodI think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm
Avalongod@Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm
WonderkarpZippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm
MonteSeirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm
MonteWe have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm
ZippyDSMleeWonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm
MaskedPixelantehttp://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm
Matthew Wilsonthe sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm
MechaTama31So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am
MonteI feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am
quiknkoldand we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm
quiknkoldThe whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm
quiknkoldI thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm
Matthew Wilsonwhile he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm
Papa MidnightThat was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm
Matthew Wilsonhttp://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm
 

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