The role of gender in claiming partial or complete homicide-related amnesia

The current study examined offence and offender characteristics in female and male offenders claiming no, partial or complete homicide-related amnesia. Pre-trial file information consisting of forensic examination reports and crime reports of all female (n = 79) and male (n = 577) offenders subject to forensic psychiatric examination in 1995–2004 and convicted of homicide were retrospectively analysed. The Psychopathy Check List Revised (PCL-R) was used for scoring psychopathy. Claiming homicide-related amnesia was significantly more frequent in female (60.7%) than male (42.1%) offenders. Findings indicate that in males the use of sharp instrument, intoxication, staying at the scene and feeling regret for the killing accompany claims of crime-related amnesia. In females, personality disorder and criminal history were significantly more frequent in offenders claiming crime-related amnesia. Analysis of intelligence, psychopathology or psychopathy indicated no significant relationship with claims of amnesia in either gender groups.