Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 238-250). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the courtroom summation of Clarence Darrow in the Leopold-Loeb Murder Trial by the application of the Burkeian concepts of strategy and pentad. Darrow's primary objective, or master strategy, was to save the defendants from execution. To accomplish this objective, Darrow had to overcome volatile public opinion which demanded the execution of Leopold and Loeb.A major factor in Darrow's rhetorical scheme concerned his decision to enter a plea of "guilty with mitigation of punishment"—a move which by-passed a jury and placed the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the judge. In order to accomplish the master strategy, Darrow employed a number of minor strategies. The most successful of these strategies were those designed to manipulate Judge Caverly's emotional responses. Darrow's master strategy succeeded because he recognized the rhetorical obstacles and because he employed sound rhetorical judgment to accomplish his objective.

By popular cultural assumption, women are less aggressive than men, and 'woman' can therefore be constructed as an image of peacefulness. This construction is a myth that needs to be questioned in the interests of proper attention to the varied experiences and circumstances of women's lives. Questioning this myth involves better description of a variety of ways in which women encounter violence - illustrated here by discussion of assaults against women in intimate relationships, women as members of military forces, women’s experiences of wartime, and discussion and campaigning by women on the subjects of war and peacemaking. This kind of description values women's discourse and experiences, the range of which is expressive of great differences among women. Feminist theological ethics is a suitable tool for evaluating these experiences, and for promoting the good of women and men in the face of violence. Feminist theological ethics emerges out of non-theological feminist ethics and feminist theology. This double root ensures that (from feminist theory) ethics is not seen as entirely separated from politics, particularly along a gendered public/private divide, and also that (from feminist theology) ethics is not separated from other areas of theological enquiry. Evaluation of women’s experiences out of feminist theological ethical concerns highlights a need for a modified universalism which will allow injustice to be challenged, and for the rebuilding of the relationship between theological conceptions of love and justice so that theological ethics can be more responsive to the context and material realities of human lives. Feminist theological ethics illuminates ways in which different forms of violence, in the so-called public or private spheres, interact and affect each other. One possible relation of women to military forces and to militarism can thereby be constructed, and a broadened discussion of war encouraged.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wyoming, 2007. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Feb. 6, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 33-38).

abstract: This dissertation examines how violent fantasizing influences the behavior of a brutal sub-class of murderers--mass and serial killers. Specifically, fantasy gives the perpetrator a profane catharsis due to his or her inability to cope with reality. The researcher identified, four common fantasy scripts: (Revenge Fantasy; Sexual, Sadistic and Misogynistic Fantasy; Suicidal-Homicidal Ideation; and Search for Validation through Infamy and Media Attention Fantasy) that more or less, play into the motivations and actions of mass and serial killers. Thus, it is important to understand why and how the killer moves from an all-consuming imaginative space to actually harming others. The methodology used for this research was "ethnographic content analysis" and, to a lesser extent, empirical phenomenology and semiotics. Source materials that were analyzed included: artifacts generated by the offenders prior to commission of their crimes (e.g., diaries, manifestos, blogs, drawings, photographs, and videotapes); official findings of governmental review panels; other public documents; survivor, witness or family accounts; news reports; and work conducted previously by other academics. This dissertation is particularly novel, in that the role of fantasy has not received much critical analysis with respect to mass murder. Likewise, the researcher's examination of current theory on the ontogenesis of moral dysfunction led to an original interpretation in the works of criminologists, Eric Hickey and Lonnie Athens. From a synthesis of Hickey's trauma-control theory and Athens' esoteric constructs of "self" and "other" a more cohesive understanding of the homicidal personality emerged. Essentially, the researcher argues that the intersection of early derailing influences and pervasive life losses result in a fragmented concept of self, which the now deeply unstable individual seeks to validate through violent fantasy and homicidal acts. It is further proposed that these findings may lead to future inquiry into: methods for early intervention and diversion of an at-risk population; and where the foregoing is impractical, better methods of detecting, mitigating the harm caused by and quickly apprehending these particularly violent offenders. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Justice Studies 2011

M.A. / This study explores the grief experiences of young adult siblings in the aftermath of murder. This research was motivated, firstly, by the perceived lack of focus on siblings, often referred to as the ‘disenfranchised grievers’ and, secondly, by the vulnerability of the young adult population who bear the scars of South Africa’s high levels of crime and violence. Three young adults were recruited to participate in interviews, in which they described their lived experience of loss. Data collection and the analysis were guided by a phenomenological research design resulting in the identification of five major themes: 1) Shock, disbelief and horror, 2) Intent and rage, 3) Recollecting and withdrawal, 4) Rupture and fragmentation, and 5) Resilience, healing and growth. These themes are discussed in relation to the research literature on sibling grief and homicide bereavement. In the concluding chapter, the key strengths and limitations of this study are reviewed and the implications of the findings of this research for further investigations are discussed

The author was stunned by the way in which justice in Mvenyane village in the district of Matatiele system handled a case of rape which led to murder. The rapist and the murder was caught by community members and brought the police officers but no rape and murder charges were laid against the suspect for that particular case. Family members and relative of deceased including the community members were traumatised by the action surrounding the rape and murder case .The author is trying to find possible pastoral care way when people are going through the turmoil as a result of murder which occurs after rape. The author saw it necessary to journey with the bereaved family and relative in a pastoral care way. The methods used in a study Charles Gerkins method of Shepherding and Nick Pollards method of positive construction. Although some fingers were pointing on the police officers on the way they handled the case, the author find it later that police officers are working under certain restriction under the department of justice. Family members and relatives should make that their case of rape and murder are reported directly to the police officers to be sure that these case are investigated .There should be traumatic and pastoral counsellors who should work to heal the bereaved families and affected community members after murder case in the communities. / Dissertation (MA Theol)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Practical Theology / unrestricted

The research aimed to explore the phenomenon of serial murder from a systems theory perspective. The purpose of the study was to develop an understanding of serial murder in a South African context from a family systems approach. Utilizing a family systems theoretical framework and the genogram method, the study, which was qualitative in nature, explored information about the family systems of individuals who committed serial murder via content analysis. The investigation focused mainly on emotional processes, multigenerational and relationship patterns in family systems. Information was gathered from numerous sources and included interviews conducted inter alia with individuals currently incarcerated for serial murder and their family members, and with professionals involved with such individuals; as well as information obtained from clinical observations and archival data. The results of the content analysis demonstrated considerable similarities but also differences in the organization and functioning of the family systems of individuals who committed serial murder. Importantly, the analysis shed novel theoretical light on the role of serial murder within family systems and challenged established dominant theoretical perspectives on serial murder that have emphasized linear, causal and/or individual-focused explanations. The study opened up considerable opportunities for further exploration of the phenomenon from a systemic perspective, specifically with the focus on the meaning of serial murder in relatively smaller (e.g., parent-child or peer relationships) or larger (e.g., political, cultural and societal) systems. It also provided opportunities for alternative vistas from which the phenomenon of serial murder can be viewed in terms of theoretical, definitional, typological, investigative and correctional approaches. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

1 THE CRIME OF MURDER - JURISTIC, CRIMINOLOGICAL AND FORENSIC ASPECTS ABSTRACT The objective of this diploma thesis is to formulate complex view on the crime of murder from the perspective of three scientific field - juristic, criminological and forensic - and in three parts to create comprehensive set of information about the most serious crime against human life. First part is dedicated to juristic aspects and it contains development of legislation in time, which by its gradual adjustements led to current legislation. Then the current legislation of the crime of murder is described in details and it is also compared with other crimes against human life and with legislation of selected states. In one of the chapters there is definiton of euthanasia, which is illegal in Czech republic, but this thesis offers comparation with legislation in other states, where euthanasia is legal. In the second part the crime of murder is described with criminological aspects. There are many statistics and graphs showing state, structure and dynamics of this crime in the Czech republic in past few years. One chapter is dedicated to a offender, including psychological treatise, statistics based on gender or relaps, and information about motives for committing. Next chapter is dedicated to the victims and it offers graphs and...