Game Blamed For Death

THE popular fighting game Mortal Kombat is being linked to the death of a seven-year-old girl in Johnstown, Colorado.

The game series, first published by Midway in 1992, is receiving criticism following an incident in which two teenagers apparently imitated the game during an assault that ended in death.

Lamar Roberts, 17, and Heather Trujillo, 16, have been charged as adults with felony child abuse causing death after beating Ms Trujillo's younger half-sister, Zoe Garcia, on December 6th.

The incident occurred as the teenagers babysat Trujillo's half-sister while their mother was at work. They both allege that the girl lost consciousness following a wrestling game, and their attempts to resuscitate her failed.

According to the autopsy, Garcia's body had more than 20 bruises, swelling of the brain, and bleeding in her neck muscles and under her spine.

Media reports are dubbing this incident "the Mortal Kombat death", saying that the girl's horrific injuries were caused by Roberts and Trujillo imitating moves from the game.

But the police affidavit, published by The Denver Channel, does not clearly link the game to the physical assault.

In the affidavit, Roberts alleges that he was downstairs playing videogames while the girls wrestled upstairs.

Trujillo alleges that "she and the victim had been wrestling, playing 'Mortal Combat'."

There is no clarification whether "Mortal Combat" is the misspelt videogame title or a term for rough play. The affidavit describes the alleged wrestling moves in detail, but does not link them specifically to the fighting game.

The affidavit doesn't include any further statements about the game, or what game Roberts was allegedly playing downstairs.

This one reference has placed Mortal Kombat at the centre of a media storm about videogame violence.

Roberts and Trujillo are awaiting trial in Weld County jail. If convicted, they face up to 48 years in prison.