Civil Liberties

Banned for "Unremitting Bleakness"

|

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has officially banned the video game "Manhunt 2" for what the Board's director calls "unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing." The game is being punished for the supposed sins of its predecessor, which–in the absence of any actual evidence–some have blamed for a 2004 murder:

The original game caused huge controvery and was blamed for the murder of 14-year-old schoolboy Stefan Pakeerah who was stabbed and beaten to death in Leicester in February 2004.

His parents believe the killer, Warren LeBlanc, 17, was inspired by the game.

Police and lawyers involved in the trial said there was no evidence that Manhunt had played a part in the murder.