A new report has revealed that nearly one in ten women killed by men in the UK over the past 15 years were mothers murdered by their sons.
The ‘2,000 Women’ report by the Femicide Census, which analyzed the deaths of 2,000 women killed by men since 2009, exposes the alarming reality of matricide. More than 170 mothers were killed by their sons, prompting calls for the government to take targeted action, increase awareness of the risks posed by sons, and provide better support for victims.
According to the report, mental ill health played a role in 58% of matricide cases, with experts highlighting that many of these women were left vulnerable due to systemic failures. Karen Ingala Smith, co-founder of the Femicide Census, described male violence against mothers as a largely unrecognized but brutal issue, warning that many more women are likely suffering in silence.
Key factors behind these killings include mental health problems, substance abuse, and economic pressures that force adult children to live with their parents for longer. Some cases also point to misogyny, with mothers perceived as “safe” targets for violence.
Research by Professors Rachel Condry and Dr. Caroline Miles from Oxford and Manchester universities, conducted in collaboration with the Femicide Census, found that 70% of matricide and grand-matricide cases between 2009 and 2021 involved perpetrators with mental health issues. Despite this, there is no specific policy aimed at preventing violence against mothers by mentally ill sons. Condry noted that many parents struggle to recognize their children’s violence as domestic abuse, making it difficult to seek help.
The Femicide Census report provides the most comprehensive dataset on men’s fatal violence against women in the UK. It revealed that:
– One woman has been killed every three days since 2009.
– 90% of killers were family members, partners, or acquaintances, with 61% being current or former partners.
– 9% of women were killed by their sons, 6% by other family members, 15% by other men they knew, and 10% by strangers.
– 80% of mothers killed by a close family member were murdered by their sons.
– Nearly half of the women were stabbed, 27% strangled, and 17% struck with a blunt instrument.
– Overkill—excessive violence beyond what was needed to cause death—occurred in 59% of cases.
– Leicestershire had the highest femicide rate, followed by Merseyside, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and London.
– At least 163 femicides were witnessed by children, and 37 women were killed alongside 53 children, usually by the father.
The report also examines sentencing patterns for men convicted of killing women. While 60% were found guilty of murder, 22% were convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility, and 12% took their own lives. Sentences varied widely, with some murderers serving as little as nine years, while only 1% received whole-life terms.
Notably, sons convicted of manslaughter by diminished responsibility were more likely to be sent to mental health facilities (76%) compared to partners or ex-partners (42%). In some cases, men avoided prison entirely. The report cites an example where a man, who fatally slit his wife’s throat, successfully claimed self-defense and was acquitted.
The findings put pressure on the government to fulfill its commitment to halving violence against women and girls within a decade. Clarrie O’Callaghan, co-founder of the Femicide Census, emphasized that the data clearly identifies the problems, urging immediate action to end male violence against women.
Jess Phillips, the minister for violence against women and girls, acknowledged the report’s significance, calling femicide’s scale “appalling” and stressing the need for stronger action. “One dead woman is one too many, but here we have 2,000. We must rise to the occasion,” she said.
The report is set to be published ahead of International Women’s Day on Saturday.
