Woman arrested for virtual murder
Friday, October 24 2008, 16:37 BST

By Sarah Rollo

A Japanese woman who allegedly killed her virtual husband for divorcing her has been arrested.

The 43-year-old was reportedly irate after being jilted by her cyberspace partner in the game Maplestory.

Police claim the ditched piano teacher illegally accessed log-in details of the man playing her husband and killed off his character.

The woman is in custody in Sapporo waiting to learn if she faces charges of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating data last May, reports the Associated Press.

If charges are brought and she is convicted, the woman faces up to five years in prison. She had not plotted any revenge in the "real world", a police official apparently said.

"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," she was quoted as telling investigators.

*****

- Should we have punishments for virtual crime, and what should the punishments be (ie should they be "virtual" punishments)?
- Should there be a scale according to how serious the crime is and, if so, what would you class as a serious crime?
[Edited 10/25/08 3:18am]

5 years, a tad harsh perhaps?

The punishment should relate to the crime. She just gets banned from playing the game, that's all. It's not an offline, 'real life' issue. And if it causes distress in real life then someone has issues! Sure, I know it's a criminal act, but it seems ridiculous.

Well I believe it's not about punishment, it's about rehabilitation.

They should switch her off and switch her back on. That'll cure her.

Like it's hard to find a new on line husband? If you die a spinster in the virtual world then you really are a loser.

JuliePurplehead said:

IAintTheOne said:

... the link didn't work for me, but I get what you're saying Steve

http://www.youtube.com/wa...MMQqE9x6i4

rasplicious said:

Fookin' youtube

Her character should be jailed, not her.

I guess it's maybe the same type of crime as fraud? Hacking computers & emails?

She's going to jail because she killed a video character in a game???? Dam, you know how many geeks are gonna go to prison now.

She's not going to jail because she killed her online husband. She's being charged with hacking.

mcmeekle said:

IAintTheOne said:

My thread on this topic was FIRST...http://prince.org/msg/100/286697?&pg=1

Shawnt25 said:

that's the charge, for hacking.

reneGade20 said:

i commented there.

but it was overrun by unrelated other comments to be taken seriously after that.

LoyalAndTrue said:

Well, finding out someone's username and password, I imagine.

Are we still trying to guess who the husband is...er....was?

JustErin said:

Nice avatar!

Mmm. I don't like murderers.

They are not sweet.

Fauxie said:

Herman hates it. So it's staying!

LoyalAndTrue said:

J/K luv....

G0d said:

you eat people?!

JustErin said:

My boys' accounts have been hacked numerous times in that game. Should I have called the police? (kidding, of course)

Fauxie said:

and then killing their virtual identity.

reneGade20 said:

looks like the subject is flourishing now.

LoyalAndTrue said:

JuliePurplehead said: