Following the brutal murder of a taxi driver in Thailand, in which the 19 year old culprit claimed to be inspired by a scene out of Grand Theft Auto, government officials are out for blood.

The GTA franchise is being criticized for "depicting violence," says AsiaOne, and creators of such violence video games should be prosecuted if "copycats take their content into real life."  Though the game has already been pulled from shelves and arcades, officials are calling for greater action. 

Somchai Jaroen-amnuaysuk, deputy director of the Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups Office, speaks of prosecution, "When a player copycats a crime he or she sees in the game, the game maker should be prosecuted.  Prosecutions will automatically force game makers to act more responsibly."

Former spokesperson for the Human Security and Social Development Ministry supported the same idea, agreeing that responsible parties should be held legally accountable for such crimes.  However, he also promotes education to prevent such incidents, stating, "At the same time, everyone, especially the Education Ministry, should make children aware that games and real life are two different things."

The killer's mother has apologized for her son's actions, promising to "take better care of him" and encouraging parents to do the same for their children.  However, her son could be sentenced to death by lethal injection if convicted of the murder.

Meanwhile, back in the States, Take Two Interactive is still facing multi-million dollar lawsuits involving a double homicide in 2005, in which an 18 year old boy from Alabama shot dead two police officers.  Needles to say, he cited Grand Theft Auto as his inspiration.