DOI: https://doi.org/10.33994/kndise.2021.66.44

А. Kovtun

The article describes and details the individual elements of the forensic characteristics of the crime under Article 117 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely, the mother’s murder of her newborn child. The study of investigative practice and special literature on the scientific organization of the investigation, in particular the murder of her newborn child by a mother, shows that this activity is impossible without the use of such a scientific category as a forensic characteristic. Since the forensic characteristic is a kind of information model that will allow, in the course of the investigation of this offense, to correctly assess the investigative situation, to determine the organizational and legal actions at the initial stage of the investigation, namely, the construction of versions, the preparation of appropriate plans, etc.
Having in its arsenal information regarding the individual elements of this offense, namely: the way the mother committed the murder of her newborn child, the place and time of its commission, information about the identity of the offender, in this case the woman in labor, the child who was found dead, as well as changes in the environment and other information will allow the investigating authorities to more effectively predict the possible course of events, establish all the circumstances to be proved, as well as the persons involved in the committed offense.

Key words: infanticide, newborn child, forensic characteristics, object, place of crime, time of crime.