Shocking figures: Child kill toll rise

MORE than a dozen children were killed by their parents in just 12 months.

The latest Australian Institute of Criminology report on homicides found 16 children – the majority female – were killed by their mothers or fathers in shocking homicides across the country throughout 2019-20.

The number of child deaths

the hands of parents was double that recorded just two years ago.

The AIC report revealed fathers were responsible for 10 of the 16 homicides in 2019-20.

Their victims included six boys and four girls.

Mothers were responsible for a total of six deaths – all of whom were their daughters.

Overall there was a total of 34 child deaths within the 12month period.

Among them were 10 babies less than a year old.

The report showed children killed their parents at roughly the same rate in 2019-20.

Fifteen men and women were killed by their children over the 12-month period. All but two of the homicides were committed by males.

They were responsible for the deaths of seven mothers and six fathers, while two mothers were killed by daughters within the year.

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