Fatal battered baby cases.

Abstract

Twenty-nine cases in which the father, or substitute father, had been charged with killing his child (under five years of age) have been studied. Nearly two-thirds of the fathers are not married to their partner and more than half are not the biological fathers; however, the biological fathers are no less violent. The work and child-caring roles are reversed for a quarter of these parents and this contributes to the stress and opportunity. The sex motive is not important. The method of killing is never instrumental; the victim constitutes the immediate stimulus. Injuries are invariably multiple and excessively severe, e.g., combinations of fatal lesions. The circumstances show the father's unrealistic interpretation of the child's activities: the baby is seen as a threat, capable of adult thinking and as acting, or not acting, wilfully. Over half the fathers delay getting help, and often leave everything to the mother. Three-quarters have given unmistakeable warning of their subsequent actions (delayed protection). The fathers show much previous crime and 27 per cent have records of previous violent crimes. No psychiatric diagnosis other than personality disorder can be made, but this exists in 75 per cent of cases. Most cases had high environmental stress and a high degree of personality handicap, the latter seeming to be the more important factor generally. Most fathers had themselves experienced parental violence or hostility but a small proportion had not, and these are usually either very immature in personality or have been influenced vicariously by very punitive wives. Sentences appear somewhat arbitrary. Treatment needs, especially in prison, are discussed. When the series is compared with a series of non-fatal battered baby cases there are significant differences in the marital status, biological paternity, number of working mothers, location of the injuries, and in the frequency and nature of previous convictions.