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.

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Comments

Re: Halo Mentioned During High-Profile Atlanta Rampage Trial

Submitted by Anomalous on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 09:50.

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

Submitted by Brokenscope on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 13:51.

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

Submitted by Dark Sovereign on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 14:35.

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

Submitted by Brokenscope on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 16:50.

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

Submitted by Kajex on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 08:04.

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

Submitted by sortableturnip on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 05:54.

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

Submitted by DeepThorn on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 08:01.

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

Submitted by Brokenscope on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:22.

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

Submitted by NovaBlack on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 05:53.

' “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

Submitted by GrimCW on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 06:19.

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

Submitted by tossetaz on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 05:53.

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

Submitted by Vake Xeacons on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 08:35.

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

Submitted by Brokenscope on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 16:50.

How is he "bashing"?

Poll

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PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/so-the-xbox-one-reveal-screwed-up-a-lot-of-peoples-kin-509179256 So The Xbox One Reveal Screwed With Some People's Kinects05/21/2013 - 10:36pm

Zen: On a funny side note...both of my boys have already voted NOT to get the Xbox One as soon as they found out Minecraft won't transfer lol. Some people have priorities damnit! ;)05/21/2013 - 9:27pm

Andrew Eisen: Here's the full quote on EA making Wii U games according to Neogaf: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56112105/21/2013 - 8:19pm

Andrew Eisen: Xbox One may not be always on but that doesn't mean you can use it without an internet connection. http://kotaku.com/xbox-one-does-require-internet-connection-cant-play-o-50916410905/21/2013 - 7:39pm

Andrew Eisen: Polygon says EA's CFO says it is developing games for Wii U but doesn't provide that quote. http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/21/4351844/ea-developing-wii-u-games05/21/2013 - 7:11pm

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james_fudge: thnx05/21/2013 - 4:47pm

Zen: Just to let ya know...you called it the "Xbox 260" in the backwards compatibility article lol.05/21/2013 - 4:26pm

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PHX Corp: @Zen I sent you a friend request on both PSN and XBL, just a heads up05/21/2013 - 4:16pm

Zen: I noticed it with the football players when EA showed off Madden as well.05/21/2013 - 4:11pm

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james_fudge: it sounds like if you have an HD reciever you'll be able to use it with a pass-through cable... not 100 percent sure yet05/21/2013 - 2:41pm

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james_fudge: yeah good luck with over the air TV05/21/2013 - 2:12pm

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james_fudge: EZK it will depend on your provider, just like HBO Go i'd imagine.05/21/2013 - 2:05pm

PHX Corp: @IanC there's also a chance that those titles might be Xbox one exclusive, but it's too early to tell afaik05/21/2013 - 2:03pm

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