Understanding the motives behind femicides is crucial to design effective prevention strategies and to support women's self-determination, free from threats to their mental and physical integrity. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter forensic study involving 27 Italian Institutes of Legal Medicine, analyzing 1238 female homicides (1950–2023). Cases were classified as femicide or non-femicide female homicide according to the medico-legal definition of femicide as the murder due to the failure to recognize women's right to self-determination. Motives were categorized into 12 groups, and relevant anamnestic and circumstantial data were collected. Of the 1238 cases, 410 were identified as femicides, 395 as non-femicides, and 433 were excluded for insufficient information. Femicides were most frequently driven by jealousy/rejection (n = 185; 45.1 %) and separation/divorce (n = 144; 35.1 %), often in the context of intimate partner violence or inability to accept the end of a relationship. Non-femicides were predominantly associated with the perpetrator's psychiatric disorder and/or drug addiction (n = 126; 31.9 %), violent aggression without gender-related motive (n = 69; 17.5 %), victim's illness (n = 63; 15.9 %), or economic reasons (n = 58; 14.7 %). In the Italian context, most femicides stem from relational dynamics − particularly jealousy, rejection, and separation − whereas non-femicides are more often linked to psychiatric illness, substance abuse, or non-gender-related aggression. Incorporating these findings into clinical risk assessment protocols, especially in emergency and primary care settings, may help identify women at high risk and guide targeted prevention strategies.
A nationwide forensic case-series of femicides in Italy – Part 1: Clues to the motives of the murder / Cecchi, R.; Santunione, A. L.; Camatti, J.; Buzzelli, A.; De Martina, A.; Sannella, A.; Vinceti, M.; Corbi, G.; Campobasso, C. P.; Sassani, M.; De Fazio, G. L.; Fais, P.; Pelotti, S.; Giorgetti, A.; Lacche, E.; Verzeletti, A.; Beltrame, B.; Zoia, R.; Franceschetti, L.; Vignali, G.; Moreschi, C.; Desinan, L.; Da Broi, U.; Zara, G.; Gino, S.; Bugelli, V.; Balduini, S.; Ginocchio, D.; Lubian, E.; Porzio, A.; Cascone, F.; Viel, G.; Angiola, F.; Introna, F.; Sablone, S.; Calvano, M.; Ausania, F.; Solari, L. -M.; Asmundo, A.; Ventura Spagnolo, E.; Baldino, G.; Visona, S. D.; Bodini, S.; Turillazzi, E.; Gabbrielli, M.; Bacchio, A.; Argo, A.; Malta, G.; D'Aloja, E.; Demontis, R.; Gozzelino, C.; Sanna, J.; Giorgetti, R.; Bora, F.; Ventura, F.; Caristo, I.; Oliva, A.; Mercuri, G.; Pomara, C.; Salerno, M.; Cipolloni, L.; Pinchi, V.; Focardi, M.; Marsella, L. T.; Treglia, M.; Aquila, I.; Sacco, M. A.; Gaudio, R.; Neri, M.; Marino, R.. - In: LEGAL MEDICINE. - ISSN 1344-6223. - 78:(2025). [10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102703]
A nationwide forensic case-series of femicides in Italy – Part 1: Clues to the motives of the murder
Cecchi R.;Buzzelli A.;Vinceti M.;Pelotti S.;Vignali G.;Bugelli V.;Ginocchio D.;Pinchi V.;
2025-01-01
Abstract
Understanding the motives behind femicides is crucial to design effective prevention strategies and to support women's self-determination, free from threats to their mental and physical integrity. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter forensic study involving 27 Italian Institutes of Legal Medicine, analyzing 1238 female homicides (1950–2023). Cases were classified as femicide or non-femicide female homicide according to the medico-legal definition of femicide as the murder due to the failure to recognize women's right to self-determination. Motives were categorized into 12 groups, and relevant anamnestic and circumstantial data were collected. Of the 1238 cases, 410 were identified as femicides, 395 as non-femicides, and 433 were excluded for insufficient information. Femicides were most frequently driven by jealousy/rejection (n = 185; 45.1 %) and separation/divorce (n = 144; 35.1 %), often in the context of intimate partner violence or inability to accept the end of a relationship. Non-femicides were predominantly associated with the perpetrator's psychiatric disorder and/or drug addiction (n = 126; 31.9 %), violent aggression without gender-related motive (n = 69; 17.5 %), victim's illness (n = 63; 15.9 %), or economic reasons (n = 58; 14.7 %). In the Italian context, most femicides stem from relational dynamics − particularly jealousy, rejection, and separation − whereas non-femicides are more often linked to psychiatric illness, substance abuse, or non-gender-related aggression. Incorporating these findings into clinical risk assessment protocols, especially in emergency and primary care settings, may help identify women at high risk and guide targeted prevention strategies.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
