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Female homicide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

P T d'Orbán
P T d'Orbán*
Affiliation:
Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG
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Abstract

The incidence, characteristics and patterns of female homicide are reviewed, with special reference to England and Wales. The male:female ratio for homicide offences (7.6) is similar to the ratio for other offences of violence. However, murder is almost exclusively committed by men, and in the 1980's the annual average of female murder convictions was only 6.5 per annum. By contrast, females relatively more often commit homicide offences related to mental disorder (diminished responsibility manslaughter and infanticide). Women have a better chance of acquittal of murder and are more likely to be dealt with by a Probation Order than imprisonment. About 80% of the victims of female homicide are family members; 40-45% kill their children and about one-third kill their spouse or lover. The patterns of female filicide and parricide are reviewed. Further research is required into patterns of spouse-murder.

Keywords

CrimeCriminologyForensic PsychiatryHomicideInfanticideWomen
Type
Review Articles
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , March 1990 , pp. 64 - 70
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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