Citation

Pilla M, van den Heuvel C, Musgrave I, Byard RW. J. Forensic Leg. Med. 2018; 59: 4-7.

Affiliation

Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Frome Rd, Adelaide, Australia; Forensic Science SA, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: roger.byard@sa.gov.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jflm.2018.07.007

PMID

30036763

Abstract

A retrospective study was undertaken at Forensic Science South Australia of all homicides in individuals aged <18 years from January 1970 to December 2014. 166 cases were identified (M:F = 1.5:1). The number of cases steadily declined, with the highest numbers and death rate occurring between 1970 and 1974 (N = 26; 0.37/100,000 population), and the lowest between 2010 and 2014 (N = 8; 0.1/100,000) (p < 0.01). Deaths were due to blunt force trauma (37%), gunshot wounds (19%), asphyxiation (18%), sharp force trauma (8%), poisoning (8%), burns (3%) and neglect (1%), or were undetermined (6%). There was a significant increase in numbers of accompanying nonfatal injuries (3.46 per case for 1970 and 1974, compared to 18.88 per case for 2010 and 2014). Thus, while both the absolute numbers and the rates of paediatric homicides declined significantly, numbers of nonlethal injuries increased. Whatever the underlying reason(s) for the increase in nonlethal injuries, fatal attacks on children in South Australia appear to be becoming more violent.

Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

Blunt force trauma; Child abuse; Craniocerebral trauma; Injury; Paediatric homicide