1. Homicide among the young, Sweden
Björn Bäckström, Susan Sprogøe-Jakobsen, Anders Eriksson
Department of Forensic Medicine, National Board of Forensic Medicine, PO Box 7616, SE-907 12 Umeå, Sweden
The annual number of homicides in Sweden has been fairly stable, ~100, during the last few decades. In only a MATERIALS & METHODS
few percent of these homicides, the victims were under the age of 18. This is one reason why only limited All homicide victims <18 years of age during 1997-2010 were
research has been undertaken regarding homicide among the young in Sweden. The aim of this study was to collected from the database of The National Board of Forensic
present a survey of child homicide and thus provide more knowledge in the field. Of specific interest was the Medicine. Cases erroneously coded were excluded. Excluded was
relation to extended suicide. also an unborn child.
RESULTS
During the study period of 14 years, we found 55 cases of homicides (n) AGE DISTRIBUTION (n) SEASONALITY
where the victim was <18 years, corresponding to an annual incidence
of 2.0 under age homicide victims per million population <18 years.
A total of 1264 homicides were recorded during the same period,
hence 4.4% of all homicide victims in Sweden were <18 years of age.
The annual number of homicides among the young varied from 2 to 8,
but there was no noticeable time trend.
(n)
CAUSE OF DEATH
. (age)
The age distribution of the victims was biphasic, with one peak A distinct peak was noted in the month of May,
<3 years and another >15 years. No children aged 4 to 8 years whilst the rest of the year had a distribution of
were victims of homicide during the study period. 2-6 homicides per month.
EXTENDED SUICIDES PLACE OF DEATH
All deaths of children <15 years by firearm injury were connected Twenty of the victims died in, or in the vicinity of,
to an extended suicide. Victims killed by firearm and aged >15 their home. A large majority of them (n=17) were
were victims of an extended suicide in 3 out of 6 cases. In total, at under 15 years of age. Nine died after being
least 13 homicides were parts of an extended suicide. hospitalized.
Overall, the most common homicide methods were sharp force trauma,
firearm injuries and blunt force trauma. CONCLUSIONS
A majority of the victims aged 15 or older (14/24), died as a result of • At least 23% of the homicides were connected to an extended suicide.
sharp force trauma. The second most common cause of death was
firearm injury. Only two victims aged 15 or older died from blunt force • There was no noticeable time trend regarding the annual number of homicides.
trauma.
Among children under the age of 15 (n=31) blunt force trauma, sharp • The circumstances of the homicides varied in several aspects with the age of the victim, e.g., regarding
force trauma and firearm injury was equally common. incidence, the type of fatal injury, the place where the victim died (before or after admittance to hospital),
and whether or not the homicide was connected to an extended suicide.