CHILDHOOD HOMICIDE IN PARIS, 1990-1993 - A REPORT OF 81 CASES

Homicide represents the most dramatic and heart breaking cause of deat h in children. Yet, in France, the true incidence and medicolegal data (modes, circumstances of deaths, and perpetrators) have been previous ly unknown. The goal of our study was to analyze the epidemiological a nd autopsy data in homicides in children in Paris and its suburbs duri ng the past four years. We have included children from a few days afte r birth to 14 years of age. We report on 81 cases during the following period (17 in 1990; 14 in 1991; 16 in 1992; and 34 in 1993). Of those , 47 were boys and 34 girls. The mean age in boys was 6 years and in g irls, 5 years. Fifteen homicides took place in Paris. The other 66 cas es were from its suburbs. Twenty-nine of the murdered children were si blings. Seventy children (86%) were killed in their own homes; the fat her being responsible in 28 cases, and the mother in 17. In 20 instanc es, the murderer was unknown initially to the police. In 22 cases, the children were killed by gunshot, by stabbing in 14 cases, by batterin g in 22 cases. Four children died from drug poisoning, 13 from strangu lation, and 6 from drowning. A prior history of child abuse was docume nted in 82% of fatal batterings.