Background. Mother's aggression, pointing to her "body and blood" is contrary to the laws of existence, denies motherly instincts strength, unconditional love for their children.
This article will discuss the mothers murdered their newborn, the most common motives of crime, focusing on offenders in maternal psychosocial dimension.
Material and methods. There were examined 58 forensic expertises of psyi chiairy, carried out by the National fo i rensic psychiatric service in criminal newborn murder cases over the period 1994-2013, in order to analyse and evaluate the psychosocial characteristic of the women betore they killed their own newborn (-s) within 24 hours of his or her birth. The study included 47 women. For systematization of information the questionnaire was used.
Results. The majority of cases was found in Šiauliai county - 21.3%, at least in Tauragė country - 2.1%. None of the investigated women were continuously and in targeted way monitored during the last period of pregnancy. 17% of women had experienced violence in their family. In the natal famtties of the investigated, 8 cases of drunkenness, 8 - viotence against the investigated, 2 - suicide committed by close relatives, in 4 cases - mental and (or) behavioural disorder. 74.4% of natal families were large (of 3 and more children). The intropunitive reaction (self-punishing) prevailed in case 35.7% of women, extrapunitive reactions (punishing others, external surrounding) - for 28.6%, for the remaining cases - the lack of constructive behaviour and reaction to stressful situation. Intelligence level was below the normal in 14.3% of cases. The average age at the time of the crime was 27.1.
Conclusion. 64.1% of cases women were living in rural areas. 51.1% of all investigated women have given birth and murdered newborn in their own residence place (apartment, house). The prevailing crime motive of all known cases - a fear or a shame before others. Women with pro fes sional ed u ca tion prevailed (31.9%), 48.9% - did not have any acquired profession, unemployed - 51.1%. 31.9% of women at the time of crime were married, 69.1% have already had children. Only 8.5% had mental and (or) be hav ioural dis order be fore the crime had been committed.
Keywords: newborn murder, mental disorder, behavioural disorder, forensic examination of psychiatry.
