Legal Definitions - parricide

Parricide refers to two distinct but related concepts:

• First, it is the act of killing a close family member, most commonly a parent.
• Second, it refers to the person who commits such an act.

While the term often brings to mind a child killing a parent, it can broadly apply to the killing of other direct lineal relatives, such as a grandparent. For the specific act of a parent killing their child, more precise terms like "filicide" are often used.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of parricide:

• Example 1: A 35-year-old man, after years of financial dependence and escalating arguments, intentionally causes the death of his elderly father to gain control of the family estate.

  Explanation: This scenario is a clear instance of parricide because the man (the perpetrator) killed his father (a parent and close relative).

• Example 2: A troubled teenager, feeling trapped and abused, plans and carries out the murder of their mother.

  Explanation: This act constitutes parricide as it involves a child killing their parent, which is the most common and emphasized application of the term.

• Example 3: An individual, desperate for money, murders their wealthy grandmother, who had been refusing to provide financial assistance.

  Explanation: While not a parent, a grandmother is considered a close lineal relative. Therefore, the act of a grandchild killing their grandmother can also be classified as parricide, extending beyond the immediate parent-child relationship.