FarmVille player steals from blind man for Farm Cash, stabs another

Nothing on the FarmVille Market is worth killing over, but here we are. Manchester Evening News reports that Adam Hamnett (pictured right), a 23-year-old Manchester, UK resident, stole a credit card from a blind man, Brian McKenzie, and spent £70 on FarmVille.

In a panic after the victim told him he'd call the police if the money wasn't paid back, MEN reports, Hamnett went to the house of Peter Bousted (pictured bottom left), his mother's 58-year-old former lover. Hamnett then stabbed Bousted 26 times before hitting him over the head with a bottle.

He then stole Bousted's benefit money, and bought crack cocaine with it instead of paying back McKenzie. According to MEN, the court heard during Hamnett's trial that he'd been binging on tranquilizers at the time of the murder. Hamnett tearfully confessed to his brother Wayne shortly after, admitting to 'flipping out' at the victim before 'battering' him and taking his money, according to prosecutor Graham Wood.

Hamnett was arrested after calling 999 (the UK's "911") and telling the operator he had done something "very bad," MEN reports. After pleading guilty, Hamnett faces life in prison for the crime, and must serve at least 20 years of the sentence. In his plea, Hamnett said to the court, "I can't explain why I attacked Mr. Bousted."

Peter Bousted and Hamnett
While there is far more at play here in this case than a simple FarmVille addiction, this is far from the first time a Facebook game addiction has inspired murderous crimes. Most usually they're crimes of neglect, but nevertheless devastating. It speaks volumes to the fact that even games like FarmVille, like all potentially addictive activities, can become equally as dangerous for those predisposed to addiction.

[Image Credit: Manchester Evening News]

Are you shocked at all by yet another murder revolving around FarmVille? What do you think can be done to stop this type of behavior as it relates to FarmVille?

Earn 2 free FarmVille Farm Cash in Puss in Boots Promotion

If you're fast, you might have a chance of taking part in a new free Farm Cash promotion located under the FarmVille gameplay area this week. This one doesn't come labeled as the particular promotion it actually turns into; rather, you're simply asked to complete an unnamed activity to earn some free Farm Cash. Once you click on the window, you'll likely be greeted by the new Puss in Boots 3D movie promotion, which seems lengthy, but really isn't.

Technically, the activity asks you to watch three movie trailers in their entirety and then vote on which one you like best. You can feel free to do that, if you're genuinely interested in the movie, or don't want to "cheat," but if you're just in this for the Farm Cash (as I know many of you are - and I can't blame you), you can speed up your time in this activity considerably by simply clicking on each video long enough to let them start playing and then clicking on the next. Within a matter of 10 seconds, you'll be able to "vote" for your favorite and will walk away with two free Farm Cash for your time.

Interestingly, this seems to be one of those promotions that won't automatically update your Farm Cash total once you return to the game. If that's the case for you, you'll need to refresh the game completely in order to (hopefully) see your Farm Cash total having risen by two. What you do with those two free Farm Cash will be up to you, but we'll continue to bring you news about how you can earn more as soon as new promotions launch.

Have you been able to take part in the Puss in Boots 3D movie promotion? Are you saving your Farm Cash for something special, or do you like to spend it right away?