Schoolboy found hanged after his father confiscated his new Wii

[wraggster]

Boy of 13 was found hanging from his school tie by his father just hours after a family argument over a Nintendo Wii computer game.


Jake Roberts had celebrated his birthday just days before, and had used some of his birthday money to buy a computer game for his Wii console.

But when he returned to the family's semi-detached home on 11 February this year, he found his sister was watching the television.

An argument developed and his father confiscated the game with Jake fleeing to his room, where he was discovered hours later.

The talented teenager, described as a sensitive boy with a fantastic imagination enjoyed writing stories and poems and even had one verse published after his school entered it into a competition.

The inquest heard evidence from Jake's devastated parents, Andrea and John, who lived with their son and daughter in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

Andrea, a bank clerk, became tearful as she recalled how her son had stormed off to his room after being told he could not play on the game.

She said: 'We gave him some money for his birthday so he went out and bought a computer game.

'When he came back he wanted to play it but his sister was using the television.

'He had a temper tantrum and stormed off upstairs.'

Dad John, a printer, said: 'The first thing I saw when I walked in to Jake's bedroom was all the paper he had ripped up on the floor during his tantrum.

'The door was open with his bed to my left behind the door. I was going to tell him off when I turned. It took me a few seconds to register what I was seeing.'

'His school tie was round his neck and he was hung from his cabin bed. I tried to lift him and his tie was attached to a bar on the bed.'


An ambulance was called and Jake was rushed to Scarborough Hospital, but he was pronounced dead two days later as a result of hanging.


John continued: 'I honestly don't think he meant to hang himself. I think he was mad about the computer game and just did something stupid.'


Andrea added that the family had watched an episode of the BBC drama Casualty together weeks, before which had featured a young person hanging themselves.


She said: 'It did occur to us a few weeks after this happened that we had seen a Casualty programme on a Saturday night at about 8pm.

'This had shown a hanging. I know I was really shocked they had shown it at that time.

'But I don't think anything he had seen influenced him. When he was younger he had a bit of a temper and he'd had tantrums with us before. '

Recording a verdict of accidental death at the inquest in Scarborough Coroner Michael Oakley said: 'There is no evidence whatsoever that he took things he had seen into account.

'He didn't have any particular temper tantrums other than those you would expect from someone who had just become a teenager.

'There had been a minor argument. The circumstances in which he was found do not suggest to me this was a deliberate act to end his life.'


In a statement after the verdict, Jake's grieving parents said: 'Jake was a kind, caring and sensitive boy who had a wonderfully dry sense of humour and huge potential for the future.

'He had a special and unique talent for writing stories which stemmed from a fantastic imagination.

'We love him so very much and miss him more and more with each passing day, and are still struggling to come to terms with his loss.'


Jake was a popular pupil at St Augustine's Roman Catholic secondary school in the town and a page on social networking site Bebo has been dedicated to him.

It features emotional tributes from school friends. One reads 'your face just made my face light up in a way, just to see your big cheesy grin. Miss you loads'.

Another simply says: 'Miss you every single day you have a special place in everyone's heart.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1029685/Schoolboy-hanged-family-argument-new-Wii.html

What a terrible story my heart goes out to the family

[_X_Zero]

wow thats one way to go out?
really though what was he thinking?

[Eviltaco64]

Well that's unfortunate :(
But all for a Wii "computer" game?

[Jay6]

I have a feeling Jack Thompson will be all over this because it's a video game related death. >_>;

[mooseknuckle2000]

that's freaking crazy! I wonder if the game was Manhunt 2 (I know that's in bad taste....)

[Eviltaco64]

Ha, yeah. Even though he didnt play the video game, the video game encouraged violence, perhaps it was another murder simulator? And maybe he was influenced by the box art.

[Jay6]

Or could have been Brawl... but I don't see why there is any need to kill yourself over a video game you can't play at the moment.

[K31taro]

not to sound mean or cold-hearted but isn't this really old news?

and if it happened February 11th brawl couldnt have caused it

[mcdougall57]

kids are really becoming messed up now, (i'll probably get flamed for this) but in some ways isn't Jack Thompson right? I don't mean for the majority but for mentally unstable kids like this. Yeah i know in the long run its up to the parents to keep a close eye on them or get them help early.

[Shuichi]

It's Parents, Schools and people these days have no care whatsoever for anyone so kids feel neglected unloved and they get problems that manifest into something major.
Just one thing you say can send someone off and do something they usually wouldn't.

[davidw89]

I blame the parenting..they should of bought a 2nd tv..

[vicious1988]

Bring back tough love. Kids these days are too soft and demanding (timeout :p ). I grew up by the belt and so will my kids, although the idea of sending them out to cut a switch is very enticing.

[KristenBaldousor]

Bring back tough love. Kids these days are too soft and demanding (timeout :p ). I grew up by the belt and so will my kids, although the idea of sending them out to cut a switch is very enticing.

Same here, I can remember how I was beaten up by my old man with either his belt or a good kick in my ass. Was a painfull childhood, still, i got to have a nes, a snes, computer games, and my old man always cared of me.

Now, I see how I behaved and how he educated me, and i'm grate full for that. It was harsh, but it resulted on something good, now like my younger brother that he lacks a lot of qualities that I have thank to that teaching

Now, i see my older sister sons, and they behave pretty bad, but they hadn't got a good woop to put em straight.

Man, how i miss my old man.

On to the topic, its pretty sad, and videogame haters will milk this one as they had milked others news in the past where videogames and people death are related, but still, i know that videogames aren't at fault, its the parenting parents gave nowadays

[Jay6]

Well, I guess some people were well disciplined when they were little... and now, from what I heard from a random news story, they want to ban disciplining children using hurtful methods, like a good clean hard spank to the ass. I think those methods should be encouraged, and "time outs" should be discouraged because they don't really do anything. Need to put some fear in the children; they need to learn that they SHOULDN'T do bad things like spitting on the carpet *SMACK!*. Some parents are wimps these days. It's saddening.

[splodger15]

Bring back tough love. Kids these days are too soft and demanding (timeout :p ). I grew up by the belt and so will my kids, although the idea of sending them out to cut a switch is very enticing.

Hit the nail right on the head.

Thats the trouble these days there are no punishments given out to stop a child from doing that. I mean in my parents days they used to have the board rubber hurled across the classroom at the pupil look at what you get now just a talking to and sent out the class. Tougher sentences on crimes commited if you commit a crime you pay the consequence of serving prison time and not just 3 month prison time and being let out in 1 and a half for good behaviour. Make it so they serve there whole long sentence like a year on prison they would think twice before they commit the crime again.

Why can't the UK goverment adopt the same style they use out in the states for there punishments on longer sentences . Eg: Life means life not just 6 years as it is here.

[____anders____]

damn, i bet he was obsessed with his wii..

[Triv1um]

Anyone who care about a games console enough to take there life because of it, deserves to die.

I know it sounds harsh, and of course I feel sorry for the family. But I don't feel sorry for the kid.

Actually, I don't feel sorry for anyone whom commits suicide. It just takes another weak minded person out of the gene pool.

Condolences to the family though.

[Illegal Machine]

Anyone who care about a games console enough to take there life because of it, deserves to die.

I know it sounds harsh, and of course I feel sorry for the family. But I don't feel sorry for the kid.

Actually, I don't feel sorry for anyone whom commits suicide. It just takes another weak minded person out of the gene pool.

Condolences to the family though.



precisely.



I wonder what Charles Darwin would have to say about this.... Probably nothing nice... but all true

[vicious1988]

Why can't the UK goverment adopt the same style they use out in the states for there punishments on longer sentences . Eg: Life means life not just 6 years as it is here.

Actually, not always true. It can be life w/(o) the possibility of parole. Even though its usually as long as 60-70 years before that possibility. Of course "usually" applies to dumb shit. Not where it really matters with murderers, rapists, and chomos (receive a slap on the wrist the first 20 times).

[Zimond]

i lol'd



PS : Don't believe a single word.

[KristenBaldousor]

Condolences to the family though.


Same here, any stupid can die, only the brave will keep on living

[wiggy fuzz]

the title makes it seem like it's nintendo's fault, but in reality i can't even see it as a "tragic accident" - the kid was just plain stupid (considering the situation)

reminds me of the kid who got killed by his gameboy... it was charging (GBA SP) and he just got out of a swimming pool. so he goes to the plug with his pripping wet fingers. stupid.

[icecoolwas]

Silly Kid.. And btw to all those Kid haters, You were Kids too you know! Also I'm 13 and I would never think about something like that! I would probably get mad go into my room and blast some music on my 250 Watt Rms 12" Subwoofer and rock the house or something.

[splodger15]

i lol'd



PS : Don't believe a single word.

WTF

This was in the newspaper aswell and your saying don't believe a word

[grossaffe]

hmm, lets see. hang myself, or save up $100 for my own TV...

[metaleggman]

God, the only thing that could make this worse is if the game was something awful like carnival games or that ninja gingerbreadman game. :p

But I honestly don't think spanking this kid would have solved anything. Anyone who says they'll essentially beat their kids into submission, as many of you have said (By belt, by kick in the ass, etc, it's a form of domination btw people), will not help anything. You simply need to tell your kids what they're doing is wrong at a young age and they become obediant. That's what my parents did and it worked out just fine. That's what my parents' parents did too.

Honestly, using physical violence against a child is just plain bad parenting. Sure, it gets results, but it's like saying you finished a game when you have an infinite health code in play. It's just stupid. Hell, I've had actual parents say that they spank their children because their children knew better. Well, it's pretty obvious that if you're spanking them and they're still doing what they're doing, they're still going to be doing it. It's obvious there's no education on what's bad, just on how you get in trouble.

Using physical harm against a child simply enforces the idea of "don't get caught," in the child. There is no connection to "what I did was wrong" and "Ow, why is that asshole hitting me". Kid's simply learn to resent their parents instead of learning that what they did was wrong. Plus, pain isn't permament. Do something that the kids won't like, such as taking away priveleges to watch TV, Toys, etc. Make them sit in the corner, etc. With physical violence, the children will simply learn that they shouldn't get caught doing bad things, not that they shouldn't do them.

I mean, you guys are doing the same thing some people are doing to their dogs. If the dog poops on the carpet, the owner will put the dogs nose right up to the poop. Sure, the dogs will 90% of the time not poop on the carpet anymore, but to think that you guys will be raising your kids like dog owners potty train dogs is just disgusting.

[vicious1988]

My parents tried the whole timeout, grounding, etc. thing with my youngest sister. The epic fail to end all epic fails there. She back talks everyone, even throws empty threats at me (6'5" 320lbs). My mom always sides with her, and what pisses me off the most is my dad will stand up for my other sister and me then cave in when my mom wants to give a shitty silent treatment.

I really can't wait for her to start hanging out with friends (all two of them) at a bowling alley and start running her mouth. When she comes home after getting the shit beat out of her I'm gonna laugh.

[limming]

But I honestly don't think spanking this kid would have solved anything. Anyone who says they'll essentially beat their kids into submission, as many of you have said (By belt, by kick in the ass, etc, it's a form of domination btw people), will not help anything. You simply need to tell your kids what they're doing is wrong at a young age and they become obediant.

That sounds like Choice Theory. I was reading a book on it a while back.


But yeah, I feel sorry for the family. Why couldn't he have just waited 30-60 minutes to use the T.V.? Most families nowadays have more than just one television, anyway. I don't see why someone would commit suicide because they couldn't wait for an hour to play a new game. Either there was something else going wrong in his life or he was a complete idiot. Sad story...:(

[Omega_2]

Just another stupid thing kids do these days...ties are now an accessory to stupidity.
I was raised by the leather weaved belt, the shoe, and the hand. My cousins; empty scoldings, 'groundings'.

Spoilers may contain ranting/anger/BS/Co2. This site is not responsible for its content. Even though I'm going to get flamed.

I'm used to getting yelled at and being 'grounded'; I don't have an outside life, who the hell is my 'friends'? I can't even seem to find time to do anything for myself. If I get in trouble, the Nazi regime will come knockin', and I won't get to use anything.

I'm on thin ice every day of the week, and other than my mom, I take care of my grandpa (feeding, changing, administering meds.) but it's as if my efforts don't matter, I still get BS from her, regardless. If I weren't around, my mom wouldn't be able to handle caring for my grandpa, going to work at the hotel/casino, dealing with the stupidity that is my siblings, or be able to handle her R.A. ALWAYS, when she needs something, its 'marc!', never my brother, or sister, even for the stupidest things, they're closer, ASK THEM, You 'claim' they're 'smarter than me'. I can't be there when you 'say' you need me.
She wants to criticize me for something, tell it to my face, not behind my back, and when I knw when something CANNOT and will NOT work, there she goes, telling me to do it anyway. I know when it won't work, but no one gives a damn.

My cousins do something bad, they get scolded and 'grounded', and they STILL get a Xbox360, high end PC, PS2, N64, GBA, new TV, and a crapload of games; all in the same month, and they're still assholes to their little brothers, they beat each other up, the oldest drops out of school, they set brick walls on fire (no idea), their room has holes in the walls and is violating the Health code, and they still get, no REAL punishment.

Me? I always got empty threats left and right in school I still don't know why, so I know that my mom won't do anything severe as 'punish' me when she 'says' she will, I DON'T go ANYWHERE, she won't discipline ANY of the other kids, but when she's mad, she's mad, but as I said, empty threats basically.


So, here's a question; Who's more messed up, my cousins, or me?
The spoilers has me ranting/Co2/plaster, as well as my opinion.


Me, cause I'm getting sick of how my mom 'says' she's going to do something, or 'you do that again, and you're gonna get it.' She 'punishes' me, but not my brother(17), or my two sisters(16), (10), they do 87% of all the crap that goes on in this 3-bedroom apartment, and they get away with it. My brother's an idiot, thinking HE'S the wrestling announcer, the 10-year old bullies the 17-year old, and the 16 year old can be a real you know what, she's the physically abusive one.

Dammit, I've ranted on too much, but my point is, I was raised right, but you don't see me hanging myself, I'd rather wait for 2060, and watch the end of all things, laughing as the planet becomes devoured into a fiery inferno. ...Might as well ignore this post.

Personally, I think the U.S. is screwed up in its 'child-rearing'.
I think my post has too much anger towards my 'family' but none towards my grandfather, I respect him, he knew how to raise kids.
Completely dysfunctional, and skewed, is what my family, whats left of it, is.
ADMINS: feel free to delete this post.

[masterchief929]

i would have to agree that the kid had horrible parenting.

[Triv1um]

that ninja gingerbreadman game. :p

I beta tested that game :D ......

It sucked.

[fg-54]

wow, it seems as if playing wii was his life. literally.

[bigbutters]

Stupid kid deserves it. I don't mean it in a bad way but the whole thing was over a video game and it said that he had bad temper. After reading the whole thing i believe the kid shouldn't have been able to play games in the first place. I mean think about it for a second. A kid hangs himself over a Wii game what do you guys think he would have done to himself over GTA IV. Seriously, people these days get all worked up over stupid things like this and they kill themselves. That kid needs to grow up... well he needed to grow up.