Ottawa Citizen
Republished with permission

March 9, 1999 -- The family of a Louisiana woman paralysed after being shot is holding a film's creators and distributors responsible for encouraging "imminent lawless activity."

A lawsuit on behalf of victim Patsy Ann Byers has been filed against producers, distributors, and Hollywood director Oliver Stone, for their role in the making of "Natural Born Killers."

The 1994 movie was centred around the story of a young couple who go on a killing spree.

A young woman and man were recently given 35-year and life prison sentences respectively for re-enacting several of the film's scenes following repetitive viewings of the movie. After killing a businessman, they shot Byers in the neck and paralysed her.

Prosecutors will attempt to prove to the Supreme Court that the film was created with the intention of making people violent.

Meanwhile, defence lawyers are challenging the idea of artistic censorship, even in light of people who choose to imitate the illegal actions of movie characters.