Manhunt takes the rap for killing

In yet another example of blaming a game for a murder, Rockstar's Manhunt has been removed from the shelves of a number of UK retailers. This is in response to claims that a 17 year old boy who stabbed and clubbed his 14 year old friend to death was heavily influenced by the depicted violence in the game. The murdered boy’s mother has called for the game to be banned, with his father stating that Manhunt is, in effect, a manual on how to use a knife and commit murder.

Major retail group, Dixons, has ordered the title to be removed from the shelves of all its stores, which include both the Currys and PC World chains. The unconnected retailer Game has also pulled the game from its shelves. Quite how all this is meant to prevent any of the thousands of people who already own the game from going on a killing rampage has not been made clear.

As this is the summer silly season in full effect and tabloid journalists have nothing better to do for the next few months, expect more developments over the coming weeks.