Legal Definitions - matricide

Matricide refers to the act of a person killing their own mother. The term can also be used to describe the individual who commits such an act.

Here are a few examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a tragic news report detailing a case where an adult daughter, after a long-standing dispute, intentionally caused the death of her elderly mother. The crime committed would be described as matricide, as it involves a child killing their own mother.

  This example illustrates the term as the act of killing one's mother, often in a criminal context.

• Consider a historical account of a powerful prince who, driven by ambition, conspired to eliminate his mother to consolidate his claim to the throne. In describing this event, historians might refer to the prince as a matricide, highlighting his role as the perpetrator of his mother's death.

  This example shows how the term can refer to the individual who commits the act, and its application in historical or narrative contexts.

• In a psychological study examining family violence, researchers might categorize certain offenders based on their victim. An individual who has been convicted of killing their mother would be identified as a matricide within the study's framework, distinguishing their crime from other forms of homicide.

  This example demonstrates the use of "matricide" to specifically label the person who has committed the act of killing their mother, emphasizing the unique nature of the crime.