Maternal Filicide in Hong Kong, 1971–85

Abstract

A retrospective study of all mothers charged with killing or attempted killing of their biological children during the period 1971 to May 1985 in Hong Kong was carried out. Adopting d'Orban's (1979) classification of maternal filicides into battering, mentally ill, neonaticide, unwanted child, retaliating and mercy-killing groups, a detailed analysis of offenders, victims, offences and legal dispositions was performed. Marked similarities and little differences are noted when our findings are compared with those of Western researchers. The commonest age group of mothers was 25–29 years. Most mothers were married. Mentally-ill mothers constituted the largest group and they were beset by social and marital problems. The next most common group were battering mothers who had similar violent family backgrounds and a multitude of other social stresses, as did battering mothers in the West. The most dangerous period for the victims appeared to be during the first six months. Methods of assault were similar to those found in the West but throwing the victim out of a high-rise building was also a common method here. Courts were generally lenient towards offenders, as in the West.