ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Domestic violence is a real public health problem with considerable consequences, ranging from minor injuries to death. Our study aims to determine the epidemiological and forensic characteristics relating to the violent mortality of women, and more particularly spousal homicide. METHODS: To do this, a double survey was conducted. The first step was descriptive and retrospective, and the second survey was analytical and prospective. This latter step covered the most populous age group of murdered women in Algeria, which is eighteen-year-old and over, and subjected a number of these female victims to a medico-judicial autopsy at the level of the thanatology unit for over four years counting two years for each survey (2017-2018 and 2019-2020). Data were entered and processed using Epi-info6 software. RESULTS: During the initial period of our study, we identified 35 cases of violent deaths involving women and representing a frequency of 5.71% of the thanatological activity. During the second period, 12 spousal homicides were recorded and autopsied, representing a frequency of 1.79% of all forensic deaths in the corresponding study period. The average age of the victims was evaluated at 33 ± 12.91 years, with extremes of 19 to 56 years. The age of the perpetrators of spousal homicide was evaluated at 42 ± 10.76 years with extremes ranging from 30 to 60 years. For victims of violent death and spousal homicide, inactivity was a strongly implicated risk factor, with respective frequencies of (88.57%) and (58.33%). Two-thirds of the persecuted women were completely unknown to the healthcare environment and had never consulted a medical professional. This parameter could be one of the predictive signs of spousal homicide. The marital home was the preferred location for violent deaths and spousal homicides. These crimes occurred variably during the period of marriage and eventually after divorce. As for the modus operandi, the perpetrators use many sharp and spinous weapons, including firearms and blunt objects. CONCLUSION: Autopsy and medico-legal investigations took a decisive interest in the identification of the causes of spousal homicide; indeed, many serious traumatic lesions incompatible with life have been highlighted. We underline the crucial role that healthcare professionals must play in the process of identifying and evaluating potentially risky situations.
Subject(s)
Homicide , Suicide , Humans , Female , Young Adult , Adult , Middle Aged , Adolescent , Autopsy , Retrospective Studies , Prospective Studies , Cause of Death , Forensic Medicine , Hospitals, UniversityABSTRACT
The body of an elderly man and his disabled wife were found submerged in a canal in open country one afternoon. They had last been seen alive that morning. The man's car was parked close to the canal and the woman's wheelchair was located in a stable position a few meters from the canal bank, facing away from the water. There were abrasions and bruises on the woman's forearms and hands and lower left leg, and the man's body displayed a bruise on the left hand and an abrasion of the left thumb likely caused by a fingernail. Other observations included frothy fluid exuding from the nose and in the airways, overdistended lungs with rib impressions and clear watery fluid in the stomach of both victims. Ethanol was detected in the peripheral blood of both corpses (1.0 g/L in the woman, 0.25 g/L in the man). The man was known to be stressed and depressed: he cared for his ailing spouse, who was affected by severe cognitive impairment and he had on several occasions expressed a desire to put an end to their misery. The hypotheses of a suicide pact or a double accident were in contrast with the woman's mental state and with the position of the wheelchair, respectively. The manner of death was consistent with a spousal murder-suicide involving a double drowning. Papers reporting similar cases are infrequent in the literature.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Depressants/blood , Drowning/diagnosis , Ethanol/blood , Homicide , Spouses , Suicide, Completed , Aged, 80 and over , Disabled Persons , Female , Humans , Immersion , MaleABSTRACT
O homicídio conjugal é um tipo de homicídio que ocorre em uma relação de intimidade - casamento, união estável ou namoro - podendo ser atuado durante a relação ou em contexto de separação do casal. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de identificar as principais variáveis e metodologias utilizadas nas pesquisas sobre homicídio conjugal publicadas em periódicos científicos. Recorreu-se a uma revisão sistemática da literatura em sete bases de dados nacionais e internacionais. Foram investigados os artigos publicados entre os anos 2011 a 2015 que apresentavam resultados de estudos empíricos e identificou-se 43 artigos. Os resultados apontam que as variáveis mais abordadas foram as factuais e as sociodemográficas. Quanto ao delineamento metodológico, predominou a abordagem quantitativa. Os estudos contam com amostras pequenas decorrentes da escassez de informações oficiais, o que leva à dificuldade em se pensar em prevenção de novos casos de homicídio conjugal
Spousal homicide is a kind of homicide that occurs within an intimate relationship - marriage, stable union or dating - that may happen during the relationship or in the context of the couple's separation. This paper aims to identify the main variables and methodologies used in the research on spousal homicide published in scientific journals. A systematic review of the literature was performed in seven national and international databases. Articles published between 2011 and 2015 that presented results of empirical studies were investigated, and 43 articles were identified. The results indicate that factual and sociodemographic variables were the ones most approached. As for the methodological design, the quantitative approach was predominant. The studies rely on small samples resulting from the lack of official information, which leads to the difficulty of thinking about prevention of new cases of spousal homicide
El homicidio conyugal es un tipo de homicidio que ocurre en una relación de intimidad - matrimonio, unión estable o noviazgo - pudiendo ser actuado durante la relación o en contexto de separación de la pareja. Este trabajo tiene el objetivo de identificar las principales variables y metodologías utilizadas en las investigaciones sobre homicidio conyugal publicadas en revistas científicas. Se recurrió a una revisión sistemática de la literatura en siete bases de datos nacionales e internacionales. Se investigaron los artículos publicados entre los años 2011 a 2015 que presentaban resultados de estudios empíricos y se identificaron 43 artículos. Los resultados apuntan que las variables más abordadas fueron las factuales y las sociodemográficas. En cuanto al delineamiento metodológico, predominó el abordaje cuantitativo. Los estudios cuentan con muestras pequeñas resultantes de la escasez de informaciones oficiales, lo que lleva a la dificultad en pensar en la prevención de nuevos casos de homicidio conyugal
Subject(s)
Humans , Sexual Partners , Review , Spouses , HomicideABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Ten percent of all homicide perpetrators are female and homicidal acts committed by women are mostly a result of interpersonal conflicts. We carried out a retrospective psychosocial analysis of ten homicide cases committed by women with an urban mid-European background. We evaluated characteristic determinants regarding 1) deed circumstances and motives, 2) the perpetrators, and 3) the victims. Results were compared with the literature on female and male homicides. METHOD: Autopsy records of the Institute of Legal Medicine of the University Hospital of Düsseldorf, Germany, during the time period from 2006 to 2011 were searched for homicides committed by female perpetrators. Prosecution files were reviewed for further information. RESULTS: The sample comprised N = 10 female homicide perpetrators and eleven victims. The mentioned determinants of the homicide were fairly consistent. All deeds occurred in the domestic context; they were mostly unplanned. All perpetrators were socially isolated and faced socially challenging situations. Most perpetrators were of low socioeconomic status. Furthermore, all victims were helpless and/or dependent on the perpetrator. The presence of a major psychiatric disorder was uncommon and, in contrast to male perpetrators, most women had no previous convictions. DISCUSSION: The potential value of these core findings in our sample regarding prevention is discussed.
Subject(s)
Homicide/psychology , Women , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Crime Victims , Employment , Female , Forensic Psychiatry , Germany , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Mental Disorders/psychology , Middle Aged , Motivation , Personality Disorders/psychology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy, Unwanted/psychology , Retrospective Studies , Social Class , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Vulnerable Populations , Young AdultABSTRACT
Homicídio conjugal consiste em um ato violento que se inscreve no âmbito de uma relação conjugal, quando os parceiros estão juntos ou separados. Entre as categorias de homicídio, o conjugal tende a desencadear um importante impacto não só na família, mas também na sociedade. No Brasil, pela dificuldade de acesso aos dados, as pesquisas acerca da temática são limitadas, o que impossibilita a obtenção de dados estatísticos representativos do número de homicídios que ocorrem no país e das variáveis neles implicadas. No entanto, no âmbito internacional observa-se a existência de mais estudos acerca do tema. Dessa forma, a presente pesquisa visou ao levantamento dos casos de homicídio conjugal cometidos na cidade de Florianópolis, entre 2000 a 2010. Para tanto, realizou-se uma coleta de dados no Tribunal de Justiça de Santa Catarina, Comarca da Capital, a fim de localizar os processos criminais referentes aos casos condizentes com os critérios da amostra, o que totalizou 29 casos. A etapa seguinte da pesquisa consistiu na elaboração e no preenchimento de um protocolo de análise multidimencional do homicídio conjugal. Como resultado, constatou-se que há uma predominância de casos cometidos por agressores do sexo masculino; que a separação de corpos foi o vínculo mais recorrente entre agressor e vítima, a qual também se configurou como a principal motivação encontrada; e que havia no histórico da relação conjugal a presença de violência.
Spousal Homicide consists in a violent act that subscribes itself within a spousal relationship. Among the categories of homicides, the spousal triggers a significant impact not only in the family but also in the society. In Brazil, the number of researches is limited, making it impossible to obtain statistical data about the number of homicides that occur in the country and the variables involved in them. However, internationally it is observed that there are more studies on the subject. Therefore, the present study aimed to conduct a survey of spousal homicide cases committed in the city of Florianópolis, south of Brazil, between the years 2000 and 2010. The data collection took place at the Santa Catarina Court of Justice, Capital Judicial District, and looked for the criminal cases that matched the sample criteria. A total of 29 cases were found and´this research stage consisted in the elaboration and analysis of a multidimensional analysis protocol of spousal homicide It was found that there is a predominance of cases committed by male aggressors; that the separation was the most recurrent relation between aggressor and victim, which is also the main motivation found; and that the spousal relation had a history of violence.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Young Adult , Crime , Homicide , Domestic Violence , Violence Against Women , Criminal PsychologyABSTRACT
O homicídio conjugal, também chamado crime passional, requer estudos mais aprofundados - a começar pela sua denominação. Apesar da ausência de dados sistemáticos relativos à sua prevalência no Brasil, supõe-se que a dimensão desse fenômeno seja tão grande neste país quanto noutros. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar uma reflexão inicial, a partir de uma revisão da literatura, sobre homicídios que ocorrem no âmbito das relações de intimidade e tentar estabelecer um termo que venha a qualificar, de forma adequada, o objeto dessas pesquisas. Diante de sua especificidade, percebeu-se que o termo homicídio conjugal parece delimitar melhor o campo de estudo dos homicídios que ocorrem entre pessoas que estão ou estiveram vinculadas uma à outra, inclusive aqueles nos quais a paixão se apresenta como elemento de compreensão desse fenômeno.(AU)
Conjugal homicide, also called crime of passion, requires deeper studies in Brazil - beginning with its denomination. Despite the lack of systematic data on its prevalence in Brazil, this phenomenon's dimension is supposed to be as large in Brazil as in other nations. This article's objective is to present initial thoughts, based on literature review about homicides which occur within the sphere of intimate relationships, and attempts to establish an expression that may properly define the object of these studies. Considering its peculiarity, it has been realized that the expression conjugal homicide seems to delimitate more accurately the field of study of homicides between people who have been or who are related to one another, including the cases in which passion presents itself as an element necessary to the understanding of this phenomenon.(AU)
El homicidio conyugal, tambien llamado crimen pasional, requiere estudios más profundos - empezando por su denominación. A pesar de la ausencia de datos sistemáticos relativos a su prevalencia en Brasil, se supone que la dimensión de ese fenómeno sea tan grande en Brasil como en otros países. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar una reflexión inicial, desde una revisión de la literatura, sobre homicidios que ocurren en el ámbito de las relaciones de intimidad e intentar establecer un término que califique adecuadamente el objeto de esas investigaciones. Considerando su especificidad, se ha percibido que el término homicidio conyugal parece delimitar mejor el campo de estudio de los homicidios que ocurren entre personas que están o han estado vinculadas una a la otra, incluyendo aquellos en los cuales la pasión se presenta como elemento de comprensión del fenómeno.(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Crime Victims , Violence Against Women , Family ConflictABSTRACT
O homicídio conjugal, também chamado crime passional, requer estudos mais aprofundados - a começar pela sua denominação. Apesar da ausência de dados sistemáticos relativos à sua prevalência no Brasil, supõe-se que a dimensão desse fenômeno seja tão grande neste país quanto noutros. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar uma reflexão inicial, a partir de uma revisão da literatura, sobre homicídios que ocorrem no âmbito das relações de intimidade e tentar estabelecer um termo que venha a qualificar, de forma adequada, o objeto dessas pesquisas. Diante de sua especificidade, percebeu-se que o termo homicídio conjugal parece delimitar melhor o campo de estudo dos homicídios que ocorrem entre pessoas que estão ou estiveram vinculadas uma à outra, inclusive aqueles nos quais a paixão se apresenta como elemento de compreensão desse fenômeno.
Conjugal homicide, also called crime of passion, requires deeper studies in Brazil - beginning with its denomination. Despite the lack of systematic data on its prevalence in Brazil, this phenomenon's dimension is supposed to be as large in Brazil as in other nations. This article's objective is to present initial thoughts, based on literature review about homicides which occur within the sphere of intimate relationships, and attempts to establish an expression that may properly define the object of these studies. Considering its peculiarity, it has been realized that the expression conjugal homicide seems to delimitate more accurately the field of study of homicides between people who have been or who are related to one another, including the cases in which passion presents itself as an element necessary to the understanding of this phenomenon.
El homicidio conyugal, tambien llamado crimen pasional, requiere estudios más profundos - empezando por su denominación. A pesar de la ausencia de datos sistemáticos relativos a su prevalencia en Brasil, se supone que la dimensión de ese fenómeno sea tan grande en Brasil como en otros países. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar una reflexión inicial, desde una revisión de la literatura, sobre homicidios que ocurren en el ámbito de las relaciones de intimidad e intentar establecer un término que califique adecuadamente el objeto de esas investigaciones. Considerando su especificidad, se ha percibido que el término homicidio conyugal parece delimitar mejor el campo de estudio de los homicidios que ocurren entre personas que están o han estado vinculadas una a la otra, incluyendo aquellos en los cuales la pasión se presenta como elemento de comprensión del fenómeno.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Crime Victims , Family Conflict , Violence Against WomenABSTRACT
O homicídio conjugal constitui um tipo de homicídio no qual a vítima e o indivíduo homicida estavam (ou haviam estado) afetivamente vinculados um ao outro, quer seja pelo casamento, união estável ou namoro. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi o de chegar a uma compreensão mais global da pessoa que cometeu um homicídio conjugal, mais precisamente, verificar como se expressam as diferenças de acordo com o sexo dos agressores. A pesquisa foi realizada com uma amostra de homicídios conjugais cometidos no Estado de Québec, Canadá, entre 1986 e 2000. A partir desse estudo, foi possível estabelecer um perfil dos homens e mulheres que cometeram o homicídio de seu(sua) parceiro(a). A violência conjugal, a separação, o consumo abusivo de álcool e os transtornos psicológicos e psicopatológicos foram algumas das variáveis precursoras observadas e que podem ter um impacto na compreensão e na prevenção desse tipo de passagem ao ato
Conjugal homicide refers to homicide in which the victim and the perpetrator were, or had been at some time, legally married, in a common-law relationship, or in a durable intimate relationship. This study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the perpetrator of conjugal homicide, with particular regard to sex differences in the aggressor, in a sample of participants having committed conjugal homicide in Quebec, Canada, between 1986 and 2000. It was possible to establish a profile of men and of women that had killed their conjugal partner. Several variables pertinent to the understanding and prevention of conjugal homicide were identified, including conjugal violence, alcohol abuse, as well as psychological and psychopathological disorders
