ABSTRACT
The ‘stranger killing’ of children and its modern extension, the serial murder, are of great sociological and psychological interest, but are outside the present remit. Discussion will be limited to the killing of children by their parents, that is, filicide, extending, where necessary, so as to include those standing in loco parentis by affinity or association. The injury or killing of children by neglect within a two-parent family must involve conspiracy between the co-habiters. This differs little from neglect of any vulnerable persons, including the aged, and in relation to the withholding of medical treatment. There are at least two other rather non-specific forms of child killing which can be identified, the surrounding circumstances of which are relatively self-explanatory. There are: multiple murder and mercy killing or active euthanasia. The victim of mercy killing is in an intolerable situation due either to physical or mental incapacity, and the parental intention is to put the child out of its misery.
