IS PARA-217 OF THE GERMAN-CRIMINAL-CODE N OW OUTDATED - FORENSIC ASPECTS OF ITS PROJECTED RESCINDMENT AND REVISION

The projected rescindment of para 217 of the German Criminal Code conc erning infanticide (newborn) prompted an examination of the forensic r elevance of this law. An analysis of postmortem examinations performed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Munich bet ween 1989 to 1994 showed that newborn infanticide is a rare event. How ever, it is subject to severe sentencing if the requirements of the cu rrent version of 217 (killing of an illegitimate child during or immed iately after birth) are not met. The motivational situation of the per petrators as well as psychodynamic aspects of denial or suppression of pregnancy are discussed.