Father, son convicted in assault spurred by Pokemon Go

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Category: Education/Family

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. dispute / dɪˈspyut / (n.) – an argument
    Example:

    The drivers got into a traffic dispute.


  2. assault / əˈsɔlt / (n.) – a violent attack
    Example:

    The teachers are worried about the growing number of assaults near the school.


  3. scuffle / ˈskʌf əl / (n.) – a short, sudden fight
    Example:

    Two drunk men had a scuffle in the bar.


  4. abrasion / əˈbreɪ ʒən / (n.) – an injury caused by something rubbing or scraping the skin
    Example:

    The motorcyclist suffered minor leg abrasions when he fell down his motorbike.


  5. come to blows / kʌm tə bloʊz / (idiom) – to have a serious physical fight
    Example:

    The protesters and the police nearly came to blows when tensions rose.


Article

Read the text below.

A Missouri jury has convicted a father and son for attacking a Pokemon Go rival in a dispute that ended with all three men in a lake.


The St. Louis County jury found Robert Matteuzzi, 75, and Angelo Matteuzzi, 33, guilty of third-degree assault. Jurors recommended a sentence of three days in jail and a fine for the father, and only a fine for the son.


Pokemon Go is an augmented reality video game in which players walk around outside hunting for animated monsters on their phones.


In June 2018, the Matteuzzis were on one team and the victim was on another. Both teams wanted to claim a Kirkwood Park gym — a site in the game where teams can compete for control.


After a scuffle, Angelo Matteuzzi and the victim rolled into a lake. Prosecutors said Robert Matteuzzi jumped in, dunked the victim and held him underwater while his son punched him. The victim suffered facial abrasions and other injuries, including to his eye.


“Grown men — including a man in his 70s — coming to blows over a childish game they are playing is ridiculous, but there was nothing funny about the injuries sustained by the victim, who could have drowned,” Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said in a news release.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Pokemon Go is an augmented reality video game where people can play together in person. What do you think are the potential risks of playing games like this? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, are competitive games a good thing or a bad thing? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The people involved in the incident were all grown men who play video games. Do you think there are hobbies that people should quit when they’re older, or do you think hobbies should be kept as long as one can? Discuss.
  • Are there any hobbies that you would like to continue or try when you’re older? Discuss.