Paternal Filicide and Chronic Child Abuse: An Autopsy Case

Paternal filicide is the deliberate killing of one's child by the father. It is a rare form of homicide that is complex and disturbing, as it might involve child domestic violence in its course. It reflects on the underlying psychodynamic and socio-economic stressors. We report a case of a paternal filicide by smothering involving a 4-year-old male child, associated with chronic child abuse. Autopsy examination revealed bluish discolouration of the nail beds, multiple abrasions and contusions present over the bilateral cheeks, nose, lips, submandibular region, right lateral aspect of the body, front and back of the body, indicative of physical abuse. Internally, blood in the peritoneal cavity was present. Multiple petechial haemorrhages are present over the heart and lungs. A haemorrhagic area was present over the mesentery. Death was due to asphyxia, consistent with smothering, in a background of multiple blunt force injuries suggestive of chronic child abuse. This case highlights the intricacies in determining the cause and manner of death in filicide cases that were associated with child abuse based on the chronology and mechanism of fatal injuries.