Hargrave and Warner: A Study of Child Homicide over Two Decades 247
A Study of Child Homicide over Two Decades DR HARGRAVE DPWARNER Final Year Medical Students, Department of Forensic Medicine, St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF ABSTRACT
The child homicides which were notified to the Leeds University Department of Forensic Medicine between 1970 and 1989 were studied. There were 131 cases, and information regarding age of victim, mode of death and post-mortem evidence of previous abuse was noted. The incidences of child homicide varied between 3 and 11 cases per year; the first three years of life providing the majority of cases. Blunt injury accounted for almost half of the deaths, whilst 34 per cent of cases showed evidence of previous physical or sexual abuse. In infant homicide (i.e. under one year of age) a pattern emerged which has previously been described as the 'shaken baby syndrome'.
INTRODUCTION
The study was undertaken to review all cases of child homicide notified to the Leeds University Forensic Medicine Department during the twenty-year period 1970-1989. The aims of this study were as follows: i) to identify any underlying trends in the annual incidence of child homicide over this period; ii) to assess the incidence of child homicide by age; iii) to record the mode of death; iv) to identify children who, post-mortem evidence indicates, may have been subjected to previous physical or sexual abuse; v) to see if any change has occurred in the pattern of abuse, primarily in infants, i.e. up to one year of age. METHOD
This was a retrospective study of the child homicides (i.e. those under 16 years of age) which occurred in the area covered by the Leeds University Forensic Medicine Department, namely North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and
North Humberside, during the period 1970 to 1989 inclusive. In this study the term 'homicide' is used to cover murder, manslaughter and infanticide. The information required for the study was obtained from case reports and relevant documents available in the department. Review of the documents revealed 131 cases which met the criteria for the study. Information collected for each case included date of post-mortem, age of victim, mode of death and evidence which was suggestive of previous physical and sexual abuse. The mode of death in each case was classified into one of the follow ing groups: a) blunt injury, including hitting, shaking, etc; b) asphyxia, including manual, ligature, smothering; c) sharp injury, e.g. with knife, scissors, etc; d) gunshot; e) burning, including carbon monoxide poisoning; f) drowning; g) neglect; h) poisoning. All of the cases in which there was evidence of sexual activity, irrespective of consent, were considered as cases of sexual abuse, because the ages involved were below the level at which consent to sexual activity can be legally given. The post-mortem evidence which was considered as a reliable indicator of physical abuse included fractures, bruises and burns of varying ages, which appeared to be non-accidental in origin. Findings from the post-mortem examination which were indicative of sexual abuse having occurred included anal dilatation
248 Me
A Study of Child Homicide over Two Decades DR HARGRAVE DPWARNER Final Year Medical Students, Department of Forensic Medicine, St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF ABSTRACT
The child homicides which were notified to the Leeds University Department of Forensic Medicine between 1970 and 1989 were studied. There were 131 cases, and information regarding age of victim, mode of death and post-mortem evidence of previous abuse was noted. The incidences of child homicide varied between 3 and 11 cases per year; the first three years of life providing the majority of cases. Blunt injury accounted for almost half of the deaths, whilst 34 per cent of cases showed evidence of previous physical or sexual abuse. In infant homicide (i.e. under one year of age) a pattern emerged which has previously been described as the 'shaken baby syndrome'.
INTRODUCTION
The study was undertaken to review all cases of child homicide notified to the Leeds University Forensic Medicine Department during the twenty-year period 1970-1989. The aims of this study were as follows: i) to identify any underlying trends in the annual incidence of child homicide over this period; ii) to assess the incidence of child homicide by age; iii) to record the mode of death; iv) to identify children who, post-mortem evidence indicates, may have been subjected to previous physical or sexual abuse; v) to see if any change has occurred in the pattern of abuse, primarily in infants, i.e. up to one year of age. METHOD
This was a retrospective study of the child homicides (i.e. those under 16 years of age) which occurred in the area covered by the Leeds University Forensic Medicine Department, namely North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and
North Humberside, during the period 1970 to 1989 inclusive. In this study the term 'homicide' is used to cover murder, manslaughter and infanticide. The information required for the study was obtained from case reports and relevant documents available in the department. Review of the documents revealed 131 cases which met the criteria for the study. Information collected for each case included date of post-mortem, age of victim, mode of death and evidence which was suggestive of previous physical and sexual abuse. The mode of death in each case was classified into one of the follow ing groups: a) blunt injury, including hitting, shaking, etc; b) asphyxia, including manual, ligature, smothering; c) sharp injury, e.g. with knife, scissors, etc; d) gunshot; e) burning, including carbon monoxide poisoning; f) drowning; g) neglect; h) poisoning. All of the cases in which there was evidence of sexual activity, irrespective of consent, were considered as cases of sexual abuse, because the ages involved were below the level at which consent to sexual activity can be legally given. The post-mortem evidence which was considered as a reliable indicator of physical abuse included fractures, bruises and burns of varying ages, which appeared to be non-accidental in origin. Findings from the post-mortem examination which were indicative of sexual abuse having occurred included anal dilatation
248 Me
