When Care Becomes Killing: Exploring the Motives for Eldercide by Family Caregivers in Japan

Eldercide by family caregivers reflects the intersection of aging, caregiving, and violence, yet its motives remain underexplored. This study qualitatively analyses 91 Japanese sentencing decisions (2000–2024). Four motives emerged: financial strain, mercy, caregiving burden, and resentment. Courts often distinguished between sympathetic motives, such as mercy and despair, and condemnable ones, such as resentment or financial prioritisation, shaping sentencing outcomes. The findings advance understanding of homicide motives and show how cultural and legal contexts influence interpretations. They also highlight the need for early intervention and caregiver support, while raising questions about how law balances compassion and culpability in such cases.