Citation

Birkhoff J, Candelli C, Zeroli S, La Tegola D, Carabellese F. J. Forensic Sci. 2013; 58(6): 1660-1665.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Psychopathology, University of Insubria, Via O. Rossi 9, 21100, Varese, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.12292

PMID

24117906

Abstract

In recent years, satanic groups have been responsible for various types and degrees of crimes. We report the case of a number of murders committed in Italy by a group of young people calling themselves the "Bestie di Satana". Forensic psychiatric assessment of the members of a satanic sect charged with the crime revealed that all the young people had a fragile, immature personality, a very low level of education and were socially disadvantaged. The trial of the members of the "Bestie di Satana" sect was concluded with the verdict of deliberate murder, and all the members were given long jail sentences. This report should lead us to explore social and cultural responses to juvenile satanism, statistically shown to be a relatively rare phenomenon but with a high criminal potential.

Language: en