Child Murder - Killing the Innocent

What is child murder? Vulnerable and innocent, killing children is one of the worst crimes around. Who would do such a thing? Surprisingly it does happen the other way around as well, where children are the actual murderers...

Child murder is treated as one of the most heinous crimes that are condemned by the society in general because the victims are perceived innocent and most vulnerable. Nonetheless, child murder cases are tried as an adult murder case in addition to any other child maltreatment and abuse the victim may have sustained before death.

Most perpetrators of child murder are relatives, caretakers, or acquaintances of the victims. There is a greater chance for children 13 years and below to be murdered by a relative while older children, 14 to 17 years of age, are more likely to be victimized by acquaintances such as their caretakers.

Many child murder cases where parents are the murderers begin as severe physical child abuse which has gone out of control resulting in the death of the child.

However, children are equally prone to child murder by strangers particularly by pedophiles who often murder their victims after sexual abuse to cover up their crimes. There are rare cases when pedophile gangs are the perpetrators to directly prey on the child victims.

On the other hand, child murder can also happen during ritualistic ceremonies. The Incas, for one, are known to use children as sacrifices during their religious rituals. Groups practicing satanic rituals also use child sacrifices for their ceremonies. Also, some religious groups use children during exorcist ceremonies which can also end up as child murder.

Child Murder by Other Children

It is estimated that around 20% of all child murders is committed by another child although most of these cases were committed by teenagers rather than younger children. In such situations, the perpetrators are tried like an adult for the crime of murder subject to the same punishment and penalties that are given to adult offenders.

Child murders where the perpetrator is another child often get prominent media exposure. Following are some child murder cases where the murderers are children as well.

• James Bulger, an almost three-year-old boy was beaten and stoned to death by two 10-year-old boys in Liverpool, England on February 12, 1993. Bulger’s body was left on the train tracks to make it look like he was hit by a train.
• 10-year-old Mary Bell was convicted of manslaughter in 1968 due to diminished responsibility in the death of two toddlers, Martin Brown and Brian Howe. She was released 13 years later.
• In 2004, 11 year-old Satomi Mitarai was murdered in her elementary school by her classmate Nevada Tan by slitting her throat and arms with a box cutter in Sasebo, Japan.
• 11-year-old Joe Geeling was killed by 14-year-old Michael Hamer on March 1, 2006 after Geeling refused Hamer’s sexual advances.  Hamer was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with parole.
• The 1999 Columbine High School Massacre where two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, were the perpetrators is also treated as child murder.

Child Murder in the Military

The use of child soldiers during wars results in massive numbers of child murders. The children are used to protect military strategic locations or as part of military propaganda.

Child soldiers are usually victims of human trafficking before becoming victims of child murder later on.

===
We all want to think we are safe but are we? If you want to know more about the different types of crimes committed today, RecordsSiteReviews.com is offering FREE ACCESS to its Criminal Records Information section. If you have a nagging suspicion on someone, run a criminal check on him or her today !