Woman Accused of Attacking People With Axe, Periphery Song Cited in Trial
The Sydney branch of ABC has reported on a trial in which a woman allegedly attacked three people inside a 7-11 convenience store with an axe. The purported incident, which took place in January of 2017, is said to have been carried out by 26-year-old Evie Amati.
ABC reports that prosecutor Daniel McMaho mentioned during the trial that Amati was listening to metalcore band Periphery's song "Flatline" before committing the alleged act, claiming that the track contains "some pretty dark themes."
Amati‘s lawyer, Charles Waterstreet, argued that his client was not guilty on account of mental illness. He stated that she was clouded by a "'toxic mixture' of gender transition hormone medication, cannabis, amphetamines, and alcohol."
As The PRP reported, Periphery guitarist Mark Holcomb has been made aware of the story and offered the following response: "It’s 2018 and lawyers still find it relevant to mention what kind of music a would-be murderer listened to beforehand. A couple more pertinent questions: favorite Seinfeld episode? Favorite food? MJ or LeBron? Star Wars or LOTR? Apple Music or Spotify? Favorite Golden Girl?" You can see his tweet below.
This isn't the first time metal music has been considered as a potential motivation for a crime. On Aug. 7, 1986, a judge tossed out a lawsuit against Ozzy Osbourne and his record labels tying the song "Suicide Solution" to the death of a teen. Additionally, on Dec. 23, 1985, a pair of men shot themselves and their parents blamed the deaths on Judas Priest, forcing the band into a courtroom.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Can aggressive music possibly be tied to criminal behavior? Or are the attempts at connecting the two simply grasping at straws? Leave us a comment with your thoughts and be sure to share with your friends.
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Periphery's Mark Holcomb Talks to Loudwire: