Uxoricide
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Uxoricide is murder of one's wife. This can be the act itself or the man who carries it out. Uxoricide is often caused by the wife's attempt to leave her husband, or by real or suspected infidelity. Excessive force is reported to be common in these slayings, presumably reflecting the emotional state of the killer.
In many patriarchal cultures uxoricide is regarded less harshly than other forms of homicide, especially in cases of adultery. It may even be regarded as the correct, honourable thing to do.
In India a frequent cause of uxoricide is a dowry which fails to satisfy the husband or his family. These cases are often covered up by reporting them as "domestic accidents" or "honour crimes".
A famous fictional example of uxoricide is Othello's murder of his wife Desdemona, in the play by William Shakespeare.
References
- uxoricide in Canada (http://members.shaw.ca/DonDutton/Papers/20%20personality%20profiles%20and%20modi%20operandi%20of%20spousal%20homicide%20perpetrators.html)
- uxoricide in Fiji (http://vaw.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/5/11/1294)
- Malinka project report (http://www.malika.it/newsletter/newsletter_1_uk_2002.htm)
