Categories Of Child Homicide

Homicide is one of the world’s most serious offence that could be committed against another person. Even though the homicide rate is rapidly decreasing it is still very present in the media. Child homicide is the killing of a child and could be seen as the most horrific crimes possible. This essay will focus on why some parents, including stepparents, kill their children and whether all children are at the same risk of being killed by a parent.

Homicide is the unlawful act of killing one human life by another human being. Distinctively, child homicide is the act of killing a child. (Brookman, 2005). A child is defined as under 18 years of age (Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2017). Children are more likely to be killed by a custodial or non-custodial parental figure. They can be biological, stepparents or foster parents. Studies have shown that age and parental dependency of a child causes a child to become vulnerable. As a result of this, children are a higher risk of being killed. (Damashek, Nelson & Bonner, 2013).

Child homicide can be divided into four categories; Neonaticide, Infanticide, Filicide-suicide and Familicide (Brookman, 2005). Neonaticide is the killing of a child by a parental figure within the first 24 hours of life (Brookman, 2005; Mugavin, 2008). Infanticide is the act of a parental figure filling an infant between 1 to 12 months of age. (Brookman, 2005). Filicide is the killing of a child by the mother (maternal filicide) or the father (paternal filicide) (Brookman, 2005). Filicide-suicide is the act of a parent killing his or her own child, and then killing themselves. (Brookman, 2005). Lastly, familicide is the act of killing a child and any other family members, then killing themselves. (Brookman, 2005).

Furthermore, children can be murdered in in a variety of acts, these include; physical abuse, deprivation and neglect, Murder-suicide and murder. Physical abuse is considered as an inflicted act that leads to physical harm or potential physical harm. (WHO,2002). Physical abuse can cause accidental death or injuries leading to death (Brookman, 2005). Deprivation and neglect acts seen as a lack of care (WHO,2002). Conditions of deprivation and neglect can include: starvation, keeping the child restrained and withholding medical care when needed (Brookman, 2005). The last act is Murder-suicide and murder. The murder can be a result of a cover up where sexual abuse, neglect or physical abuse is present (Brookman, 2005).

Motivations vary between cases as to why parents kill their children. D’Orban (1979) has categorised female Maternal filicide has been categorised into five groups; Neonaticide, Battering Mothers, Retaliating Mothers, Killing unwanted children and Mercy killings (Brookman, 2005).In the Neonaticide category, the mothers are usually suffering from mental illness (Krischer, Stone, Sevecke & Steinmeyer, 2007) and are often unplanned pregnancies of young immature women (Brookman, 2005). Battering mothers is the classification where the child suffers from physical abuse and neglect. The mother will commonly present signs of post-natal depression (Brookman, 2005). Actions will also come as a result of impulsive anger and loss of temper (Mugavin, 2008). Retaliating mothers is the mothers displaced anger and aggression that is misplaced upon the child (Mugavin, 2008). Majority of the times retaliating mother are victims of abuse themselves as a child (Brookman, 2005). Killing unwanted children is the act killing of a child whether the chid is unwanted, the father is unknown, or the pregnancy is illegitimate (Brookman, 2005). These crimes are very passive, children are often neglected or the crimes can be very aggressive (Mugavin, 2008). Lastly, Mercy killings or euthanasia are seen as the only way out for the mother. The victim believes that they are suffering and that there is no other way out.(Mugavin, 2008). Mental disturbances and illness are present in mother who fall into this category (Brookman, 2005). One case representing D’Orban’s categories of maternal filicide is the case of Jane. At 19 years of age, Jane had a 10 day old baby named Laurie. Throughout Laurie’s 10 days, she suffered physical abuse from her mother Jane. Jane had suffered from post-natal depression and had expressed concerns about her de facto husband not coming back. Jane was angry and upset because she was left alone with a baby she did not want.(Brookman, 2005).

Fathers can also be the main perpetrators of child homicide. Adler and Polk (2001) have discovered two categories in which paternal homicide fall into. Fatal assaults and filicide- suicide. Fatal assaults make up 55% of filicide cases (Brookman, 2005). These assaults occur as an act of discipline, which turns violent (Brookman, 2005). Adler & Polk (2001) identified that this crime is a way of ‘asserting’ dominance or power over the family or mother. The intent is not to kill but rather to punish or control (Brookman, 2005; Adler & Polk 2001). Filicide- suicide is when the father kills the child and then himself (Brookman, 2005). Filicide- suicide has the intent to kill, the father may feel powerless and hopeless and therefore believes this to be the only way out (Brookman, 2005). In some cases, family annihilation can be a major factor in paternal filicide (Brookman, 2005). This can be seen in the case of Mathew and Mona. After a messy divorce settlement Mathew had lost custody of his children, his emotions took over and got the better of him and killed his 10-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter and then himself (Brookman, 2005; Adler & Polk 2001).

However not all children are at the same level of risk of being killed by a parent. Despite the World Health Organisation’s 2002 report estimating that there are 41,000 cases of child homicide. That means that in Australia the child homicide rate is estimated to be 0.8 per 100,000 children (Damashek, Nelson & Bonner, 2013). According to the Australian Institute of Criminology (2012) it is estimated that 12% homicide victims in 2012 were under the age of 17 in Australia. Some children are more susceptible to be a victim of this crime such as young boys. Research has shown that between the years 1995-2001 40% of child homicide victims were females and 60% were males (Brookman, 2005). According to Brookman (2005) children aged one year and under are four times more likely to become a victim of homicide. Studies have also concluded that children are more likely to be killed by a parent rather than a stranger (Brookman, 2005).

In conclusion, it is clear to see that not all children are at the same level of risk of being killed by a parent, and motivations vary between cases and situations. D’Orban has categorised maternal filicide into the 5 groups; Neonaticide, Battering Mothers, Retaliating Mothers, killing unwanted children and Mercy killings and Alder and Polk have categorised paternal filicide into fatal assaults and filicide- suicide.