Juridical and Medico-Legal Analysis of Infanticide under the Indonesian Penal Code
Keywords:
infanticide, forensic medicine, evidence, elements of an offence, criminal lawAbstract
This research discusses the crime of infant homicide in the Indonesian criminal law system based on the Criminal Code and Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. The primary focus of the research is analyzing the normative regulation of infant homicide, the application of forensic medical science in determining the time and living status of the infant, the determination of time limits and victim age boundaries, and the legal implications of distinguishing infant homicide from other related crimes. This normative legal research utilizes statutory, conceptual, and case approaches with primary and secondary legal materials analyzed qualitatively. The research results indicate that infant homicide is regulated as a lex specialis with specific elements that distinguish it from ordinary murder. The interpretation of the time element and the living status of the infant requires a forensic medical science approach, which serves as an important instrument in evidentiary proof. The unclarity of time limits and the term "child" in the formulation of the offense creates legal uncertainty. The distinction in qualifications between infant homicide, abortion, and ordinary murder carries significant criminal consequences. This research recommends the formulation of technical guidelines and the strengthening of synergy between the legal profession and forensic medicine.
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