This study examines the characteristics of parricide in Australia using 35 years of data from the National Homicide Monitoring Program. Findings illustrate the distinctiveness of parricide and the greater need to consider this form of lethal violence in responses to family violence.

Key findings

• Parricide, or the homicide of a parent by their child, comprises 5% of homicides each year.
• Almost all parricides were of a single parent, although the homicide of both parents was more common in Australia than in other countries where estimates exist.
• Offenders were predominantly male but victimisation was more even.
• Parricide was largely gendered, with sons more likely to kill their fathers and daughters to kill their mothers.
• Offenders aged 10–17 years committed parricide at higher rates than older homicide offenders and almost a fifth of parricide offenders were delusional at the time of the homicide.