Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 100
During a period of escalation of criminal activity by group members, and an intensification
of the bizarre and erratic behavior of the leader, Matthew reported becoming frightened by
the uncontrollability of the events. He stated that he wanted to leave the group at this time.
However, he was faced with a dilemma. Kane had made it clear to all members that there
was no possibility of leaving the group alive: ―the only way out is death.‖ At the time,
Matthew did not doubt that he would be killed if he left the group. He reported intense fear
for himself, his pregnant girlfriend, and his family. The other factor that reduced his options
in this situation was the fact that he wholeheartedly believed the police were the enemy, a
belief that led to his inability to seek assistance from this source.
Matters quickly escalated. Several group members were arrested for a range of criminal
activities they had perpetrated in the process of achieving group goals. Kane visited
Matthew at his place of employment and provided him with weapons that he told him to use
against the police if they visited his residence. Although desperate to disengage from the
group, Matthew could see no way that he could stop the escalation of events and protect
himself and his loved ones. He reported intense fear and marked depersonalization.
After a day of intense contemplation of his problem situation, Matthew met with Kane on
June 1, 1997 at 1:00 a.m. in a semi-isolated area in a suburb of Hobart. Kane was reported
to be agitated and threatening. Despite Matthew‘s suspicion that Kane was being protected
by his ―ninja army,‖ and that Matthew would not escape their wrath, he repeatedly shot,
and killed Kane as he stood on the street. Matthew stated that he believed at the time that
he had no choice but to do what he did because his life and the lives of his family were at
risk.
All the victim‘s known associates were interviewed at the police station in Hobart. During
routine questioning, the police asked Matthew whether he had killed Kane. Matthew
acquiesced and confessed to the crime, despite the fact that the police had no evidence or
particular suspicion that he was the perpetrator.
Although Matthew pleaded self-defense, he was found guilty of murder in the Tasmanian
Supreme Court in Hobart and sentenced to 18 years‘ imprisonment. However, with recent
sentences ranging from 21 years to 25 years (information available at
http://www.courts.tas.gov.au/supreme), this sentence was less severe than what most
others received. Matthew is currently a maximum-security prisoner. He has accessed
psychological support within the prison.
In summary, Matthew was an unassuming young man with a good work ethic whose history
of geographic mobility made it difficult for him to develop good and lasting peer
relationships. He had no history of criminal behavior, and he appeared to have been
relatively well adjusted psychologically, albeit unassertive and somewhat isolated. His
interest in martial arts brought him into contact with the leader of the group of which he
was to become a member. Following his membership, evidence suggests that his behavior
radically changed: He demonstrated aggressive behaviors and engaged in criminal activities
that were outside his realm of experience. In retrospect, Matthew finds it inconceivable that
he acted in such a way. His belief in the power of the leader of the group was absolute. As a
consequence, Matthew felt that he had to take the radical action of killing the leader to
extricate himself from the group. On the basis of the above information, we consider the
influence of the group to be cultic in nature.
Method
Materials
Intellectual functioning. We administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–III (WAIS-
III) to Matthew to assess intellectual functioning and to calculate Total, Verbal, and
Performance IQs. We used the American standardization norms.
During a period of escalation of criminal activity by group members, and an intensification
of the bizarre and erratic behavior of the leader, Matthew reported becoming frightened by
the uncontrollability of the events. He stated that he wanted to leave the group at this time.
However, he was faced with a dilemma. Kane had made it clear to all members that there
was no possibility of leaving the group alive: ―the only way out is death.‖ At the time,
Matthew did not doubt that he would be killed if he left the group. He reported intense fear
for himself, his pregnant girlfriend, and his family. The other factor that reduced his options
in this situation was the fact that he wholeheartedly believed the police were the enemy, a
belief that led to his inability to seek assistance from this source.
Matters quickly escalated. Several group members were arrested for a range of criminal
activities they had perpetrated in the process of achieving group goals. Kane visited
Matthew at his place of employment and provided him with weapons that he told him to use
against the police if they visited his residence. Although desperate to disengage from the
group, Matthew could see no way that he could stop the escalation of events and protect
himself and his loved ones. He reported intense fear and marked depersonalization.
After a day of intense contemplation of his problem situation, Matthew met with Kane on
June 1, 1997 at 1:00 a.m. in a semi-isolated area in a suburb of Hobart. Kane was reported
to be agitated and threatening. Despite Matthew‘s suspicion that Kane was being protected
by his ―ninja army,‖ and that Matthew would not escape their wrath, he repeatedly shot,
and killed Kane as he stood on the street. Matthew stated that he believed at the time that
he had no choice but to do what he did because his life and the lives of his family were at
risk.
All the victim‘s known associates were interviewed at the police station in Hobart. During
routine questioning, the police asked Matthew whether he had killed Kane. Matthew
acquiesced and confessed to the crime, despite the fact that the police had no evidence or
particular suspicion that he was the perpetrator.
Although Matthew pleaded self-defense, he was found guilty of murder in the Tasmanian
Supreme Court in Hobart and sentenced to 18 years‘ imprisonment. However, with recent
sentences ranging from 21 years to 25 years (information available at
http://www.courts.tas.gov.au/supreme), this sentence was less severe than what most
others received. Matthew is currently a maximum-security prisoner. He has accessed
psychological support within the prison.
In summary, Matthew was an unassuming young man with a good work ethic whose history
of geographic mobility made it difficult for him to develop good and lasting peer
relationships. He had no history of criminal behavior, and he appeared to have been
relatively well adjusted psychologically, albeit unassertive and somewhat isolated. His
interest in martial arts brought him into contact with the leader of the group of which he
was to become a member. Following his membership, evidence suggests that his behavior
radically changed: He demonstrated aggressive behaviors and engaged in criminal activities
that were outside his realm of experience. In retrospect, Matthew finds it inconceivable that
he acted in such a way. His belief in the power of the leader of the group was absolute. As a
consequence, Matthew felt that he had to take the radical action of killing the leader to
extricate himself from the group. On the basis of the above information, we consider the
influence of the group to be cultic in nature.
Method
Materials
Intellectual functioning. We administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–III (WAIS-
III) to Matthew to assess intellectual functioning and to calculate Total, Verbal, and
Performance IQs. We used the American standardization norms.
