When a Child Kills: Abused Children Who Kill Their Parents

In an impressive, well-documented study of juvenile crime and parental sadism, L.A. attorney Mones, writing with sensitivity, eloquently defends brutalized teenage parricides. He argues that such youngsters, having blocked off feelings in order to survive years of parental sexual or other physical and mental abuse, and without protection from the community or the justice system, reach a breaking point that triggers their killing of one or both parents--son-father patricide being the most common. Mones further charges that society does not extend to these teenagers the compassion and aid accorded to battered wives who return violence with violence. He advocates the establishment of more shelters for abused youths and enactment of laws similar to those in Sweden against physical punishment of children. (Oct.)