Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
School of Health Science, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Alphington, Victoria, Australia.
Behav Sci Law. 2024 Jul-Aug;42(4):435-460. doi: 10.1002/bsl.2665. Epub 2024 May 27.
The present study examined distinctions between child (n = 30) and adult (n = 212) sexual homicide offenders (SHOs) in Australia and New Zealand, contributing to the limited international research on the subject. Data, primarily sourced from judges' sentencing comments on AustLII and New Zealand Legal Information Institute, revealed significant differences. Child SHOs displayed elevated rates of pedophilia, sexual deviance, and adverse childhood experiences, including sexual abuse. They were more likely to be married, cohabitate, and target familial victims. Their crimes were more often committed during daylight and outdoors, involving tactics such as victim conning, restraints, strangulation, and hiding victim's bodies. No significant group differences emerged regarding offenders' psychopathy or sexual sadism scores. Results were interpreted in line with child SHOs' deviant sexual preferences and the routine activity theory. The study, as the first investigating child sexual homicides in Australia and New Zealand, sets the foundation for an evidence-based approach to policy and practice.
本研究考察了澳大利亚和新西兰儿童（n=30）和成年（n=212）性杀人罪犯（SHO）之间的区别，为该领域有限的国际研究做出了贡献。数据主要来源于 AustLII 和新西兰法律信息研究所法官的量刑意见，揭示了显著差异。儿童 SHO 表现出较高的恋童癖、性偏差和不良童年经历，包括性虐待。他们更有可能已婚、同居，并以家庭受害者为目标。他们的犯罪更常发生在白天和户外，涉及欺骗受害者、限制受害者、勒死和隐藏受害者尸体等策略。罪犯的精神病态或性虐待狂评分没有明显的群体差异。研究结果与儿童 SHO 的性偏好偏差和日常活动理论相符。该研究作为首次在澳大利亚和新西兰调查儿童性杀人案件，为制定基于证据的政策和实践方法奠定了基础。
