Neonaticide, Infanticide and Child Homicide
A total population study of neonaticide, infanticide and child homicide is reported. There are seven defineable syndromes of unlawful child killing which include: neonaticide, infanticide, non-accidental injury, the deprivation-starvation syndrome, euthanasia, killing of family members followed by the suicide of the killer, and child murder. 49 such cases are reported from a base population of 2 million people, over a 10-year period of investigation. The syndromes of neonaticide and non-accidental injury each contribute some 20 per cent of cases in the full spectrum of unlawful child killing. 18 cases of fatal non-accidental injury were reported over this time. With modern crisis intervention facilities, standard hospital rules for the management of acute cases of non-accidental injury, and co-ordinated child abuse centres, approximately 2 per cent only of non-accidental injury cases should come to a fatal conclusion.