She killed her son out of love: the debate over filial violence

She killed her son and said she did it out of love: the case stirring up social debate

"I killed my son because I loved him." The sentence, attributed to a mother after taking her son's life, has sparked an intense debate in recent hours. Behind it lies a dead minor and an uncomfortable question: how can the murder of a child be justified in the name of love? The account, still unconfirmed by officials, has brought two issues to the table that go beyond the incident itself: filial violence and how the media treat these crimes when the perpetrator is a woman.

Two readings of the crime

Public opinion has split between those demanding an exemplary punishment and those who believe the case should be examined through the lens of mental health. Between these two extremes slips a third, more uncomfortable view: the argument that this kind of incident is being normalized, and that media narratives tend to seek psychological explanations when the perpetrator is a mother, rather than applying the same severity they would to a father.

That suspicion of a double standard is precisely what has resonated most in the public debate. It is not backed by figures, but it reflects a widespread social perception: the idea that gender shapes the narrative of the crime, and that women are treated as victims instead of being judged for their actions.

An unanswered question

The case leaves more questions than answers. Can a mother's mental state explain, though not justify, such an act? Does the Spanish incivil justice system treat men and women who kill their children differently? The only thing that is clear is that the tragedy has already peine and that the debate, as almost always, comes afterwards.