GTA Insanity Defense Fails; Cop-killer Found Guilty

It took just one hour for an Alabama jury to reject Devin Moore's insanity defense, convicting the 20-year old of murdering two Fayette police officers and a police dispatcher in June, 2003. The jury of eleven women and one man will deliberate Moore's fate when the penalty phase begins on Wednesday. Moore could receive the death sentence.

Part of Moore's insanity claim was based on compulsive playing of Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City. A civil suit filed on behalf of the victims' families by Miami attorney and self-described "anti-game crusader" Jack Thompson is expected to begin after the criminal case wraps up. Defendants in the lawsuit include Wal-Mart and GameStop, where Moore purchased the games, as well as PlayStation 2 manufacturer Sony and GTA publisher Take-Two Interactive.


Pictured at left are two of Devin Moore's victims. At upper left is Corporal James Crump, 40. At lower left is Officer Arnie Strickland, 55. Not pictured is Police Dispatcher Leslie "Ace" Mealer, 38. If anyone can steer us to a photo of Mr. Mealer, we would be pleased to include it with those of his fallen comrades.

P.S. - A tip of GP's cap to quartermaine for letting us know the jury was back so quickly!