CHILD HOMICIDE IN COLOGNE (1985-94)

Twenty five child homicides investigated in the Cologne University Ins titute of Forensic Medicine from 1985-94 were retrospectively analysed with special reference to the evidential value of the autopsy finding s and possible peculiarities related to the infants' physiological con dition. About 65% of the victims were boys younger than 3 years. About 65% of the child homicides were committed by the mother in the parent al hat, predominantly in the early hours of the evening during the wee kend. The mode of death were 10x blunt injury, 6x sharp violence, 6x s trangulation, 3x smothering, 2x drowning, 2x gunshot and 5x neglect (s tarvation). The defenseless, helpless and immobile condition of the in fant particularly favours a homicide by manual assault, smothering or neglect (starvation).