Murderer’s Mother Blames Video Games
July 16th, 2007 by Gibran Nawaz in Articles
The mother of Stuart Harling, who had stabbed a nurse to death, is speaking out about the reason for her child’s behavior. She claims that what triggered the violence was none other than video games.
“I knew he was playing the video games but we didn’t really know what went on in them, how brutal and graphic they were. Stuart was 11 or 12 when I bought him the PlayStation. For a long time I didn’t even realise games had age limits on them. We’d just buy him the game that all the other kids had. I didn’t really know what they were about. I think most parents are the same.”
Harling was given a life sentence for stabbing the woman seventy-two times, “Just like he’d PRACTISED on the PlayStation in his bedroom.”
”Every night he would retreat into his darkened bedroom at home in Rainham, Essex, and enter a grisly virtual world that revelled in sadism, ritual blood-letting and death. Just like millions of other youngsters. One of baby-faced Harling’s favourite games was the notorious Manhunt, where players SLASH and SLICE their victims with meat CLEAVERS, cheese WIRE and CHAINSAWS, or suffocate them with plastic bags.”
It is very sad that this tragic incident had to happen, but to blame the cause on something quite irrelevant like this is just another scapegoat. There could have been several other causes for the man’s mental behavior, but those were not mentioned at all.
Tags: Articles“I know these games are played by kids across the world, but some are truly horrific. And if they can cause a trigger to be pulled in someone’s head they should be banned.”
July 16th, 2007 at 10:51 am
and cue loony jack thompson in 3 2 1…
July 16th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
I am a devout gamer but i completly blame this incident on video games as well. Now dont get me wrong I am not saying that video games are wrong at all, and im not saying that video games cause evil behavior when used by the right people. the article says that the boy was 11 or 12. I dont know about you guys but i think that there is a reason for the big fat RATED M FOR MATURE on the cover. i personaly think it is the mothers fault for being a bad parent.she should have paid f***in attention to the games “SHE BOUGHT HIM.” I mean obviously a game like manhunt is not appropriate for children didnt she find the cover and the name manhunt a little disturbing. I blame the parent for being a bad parent.
July 16th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Ive never played manhunt but from what I hear, its the most violent game ever. Truly sad. And NECKRYS, how can you COMPLETELY blame this on video games? Its not like the ONLY reason for this was that he played violent games, that just doesent happen.
July 16th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
72 times? wouldnt after 10 stabs get boring? He must ve had alot of hate in him.
July 16th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
3 strikes and you’re out! First, the mother admitted to buying her child the games without knowing what they were about. Second, the mother admits to not even knowing about the ratings…um, hello, how irresponsible can you get? Third, she admitted to him retreating “into his darkened bedroom at home”. Warning signs…
So yeah, another stupid and irresponsible parent trying to place the blame on games rather then themselves.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
okay josh if you think that a 12 year old kid got the idea of stabbing somone that many times ur obviously not very smart and second why cant you admit that it must have had an influence im not saying anything wrong about video games im just saying that video games are not suitable for under the age rated
July 16th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
I didnt say it didnt have anything to do with it, I’m saying that it cant be COMPLETELY the video games fault. There had to be other aspects to it other than just a kid playing a game and then going psycho. And if you think 12 is an age where you are unexposed to violence on tv and in movies, then you’re wrong. Obviously hes either had some mental problems in the past or they are just now arising. You cant blame the murder solely on the video games, he was either incredibly stupid, or had mental problems before.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Have people completely forgotten that Movies and TV portray the same shit? And if the mother bought him the game without knowing what it was about or checking the rating, and he retreats to his dark room every night, than i dare say its possible he has some movies in there that are just as bad, if not worse, than his video games.
July 18th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
yes dustin but video games are diferent in movies you watch people do these things. in video games you are the one doing sadistic things.
July 18th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I dont fucking understand? Look at what? texas chainsaw…. they made like 3 movies. Theyre so many gorey movies. Movies show so more than video games. They re like well kids will play them! Well, u moron they see the movies too. I admit I love gore, but when I saw the fear and quake 4 intro’s I feel it went alittle to far.
I just like it when blood sprays, not where it goes into details of heads getting blown off and arms ripping off. But, lol SOF did it kinda cool tho.
July 20th, 2007 at 7:38 am
im not saying they dont have worse things in movies i know this im just saying the fact that in video games you are the one cutting peoples heads of it makes a little differene than watching people from saw cutting their legs of or sumthing
August 17th, 2007 at 9:38 am
The trouble is giving such a young kid this kind of game, it will F*** up his head. I’m amazed that it didn’t happen sooner. But you can’t blame it all on the video games or TV/movies, the kid must have had some problems before this incident.
He also claimed that he killed Moss because he was bored and only stopped stabbing her because his disguise wig fell off.