Torture murder is a loosely defined legal term to describe the process used by murderers who kill their victims by slowly torturing them. The torture usually lasts over a prolonged period of time. It is often a practice of serial killers.^{[citation needed]} Torture is defined by the United Nations Convention Against Torture as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he... Serial killers are individuals who have a history of multiple slayings of victims who were usually unknown to them beforehand. ...

Style

Torture murder is usually preceded by a kidnapping where the killer will take the victim to a secluded place. There, the killer will kill the victim by torture, sometimes in very grisly ways. Torture is defined by the United Nations Convention Against Torture as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he...

Two of the most notorious torture murderers were Leonard Lake and Charles Ng who, during the 1980s in California, killed over 18 men, women, and children after torturing them for days or even weeks. The torture included killing infants in front of their mothers, burning alive victims bound to wooden planks, and whipping victims with barbed stakes. Leonard Lake (July 20, 1946 - June 6, 1985) was an alleged American serial killer. ... Charles Ng at San Quentin State Prison Charles Chi-Tat Ng (Chinese: 吳志達, Cantonese IPA: , Pinyin: Wú Zhìdá; born December 24, 1960) is an American serial killer who committed his crimes with Leonard Lake. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... A human infant In basic English usage, an infant is defined as a human child at the youngest stage of life, especially before they can walk or simply a child before the age of one. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The term whipping has multiple meanings. ...

A Japanese girl, Junko Furuta, was held captive for over forty days and tortured to death by four teenaged boys, including Jo Kamisaku, in 1988. The boys said that they had not intended to kill her and instead pled guilty to a lesser charge. Junko Furuta (古田順子 Furuta Junko) was a Japanese girl who was murdered in one of Japans most infamous crimes. ... Jo Kamisaku (神作 譲 Kamisaku Jō) was a Japanese man who as a youth participated in the murder of Junko Furuta. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

Torture murder is considered one of the most vicious crimes in existence, due both to its premeditated nature and the general attitude of those who commit torture murder; a total disregard for another's life and a feeling of pleasure from inflicting pain on others. In the United States, those killers accused of torture murder are most often charged with the crime of capital murder, which can result in a death sentence. Premeditation, in law, is when you think about and plan out a crime before you commit it. ...

State sanctioned

Torture murder may also be a legal act of a state, especially in nations which employ torture as a means of interrogation. Nazi Germany was well known for state sanctioned torture murder, as members of the SS were often employed to interrogate enemies of the state under slow torture, often killing them in the process. Death by slow torture was also a common occurrence in Nazi concentration camps. A state is a political association with effective dominion over a geographic area. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... SS or ss or Ss may be: The Schutzstaffel, a Nazi paramilitary force Steamship (SS) (ship prefix) The United States Secret Service A submarine not powered by nuclear energy (SS) (United States Navy designator), see SSN A Soviet/Russian surface-to-surface missile, as listed by NATO reporting name Shortstop... It has been suggested that Internment be merged into this article or section. ...

Typically, one who kills by torture under the authority of the state is not considered a torture murderer unless later tried by another state or authority for such acts as war crimes. Such was the case with Klaus Barbie who was applauded by Nazi authorities for his abilities in the Gestapo to extract confessions under torture. Barbie was later tried and convicted of murder in several such cases. In the context of war, a war crime is a punishable offense under International Law, for violations of the laws of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ... Klaus Barbie in Army NCO Uniform. ... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

List of torture murders

Some notable perpetrators and victims include the following. The dates indicate the time of the crime or crimes.

Torture murderers

• Moors murders (UK, 1963 to 1965)
• Rosemary and Fred West (UK, 1973 to 1979)
• Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo (Canada, early 1990s)
• Paul John Knowles (the Casanova Killer) (1974) (was known to have tortured several of his victims before killing them)
• Gertrude Baniszewski (Indiana, 1965)
• Geza de Kaplany (California, 1962)

This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Rosemary Pauline West (born November 29, 1953 as Rosemary Letts) is an English serial killer, now an inmate at HMP Bronzefield, Ashford, Middlesex. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Karla Leanne Homolka, also known as Karla Leanne Teale (born May 4, 1970 in Port Credit, Ontario, Canada), is a Canadian serial killer who attracted worldwide media attention when she was convicted of helping her husband, Paul Bernardo, rape and murder teenage girls, including her own sister Tammy Homolka. ... Paul Kenneth Bernardo, (he later assumed the name Paul Teale) (born August 27, 1964 in Scarborough, Ontario), is a Canadian serial killer, known for the murders he committed with his wife Karla Homolka. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Paul John Knowles (1946–November 18, 1974) was an American mass murderer tied to the deaths of eighteen people in 1974, though he claimed to have taken thirty-five lives. ... Gertrude Baniszewski (pronounced ban-i-shef-skee) (1929–1990), also known as Gertrude Wright and The Torture Mother, was an Indiana divorcee who oversaw and facilitated the prolonged torture, mutilation, and eventual murder of Sylvia Likens, a teenage girl she had taken into her home. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Geza de Kaplany was a Hungarian-born doctor who practised in California. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Torture murder victims

• Mary Ann Leneghan (UK, May 7 2005)
• Ilan Halimi (France, 2006)
• Sylvia Likens (Indianapolis, 1965)
• Junko Furuta (Japan , 1989)

Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ilan Halimi (1982? - 13 February 2006) was a young French Jew of Moroccan descent kidnapped on 21 January 2006, by a gang . ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sylvia Marie Likens (January 3, 1949 - October 26, 1965) was tortured to death by Gertrude Baniszewski (née Van Fossan), her children, and other children from their neighborhood. ... The Indianapolis skyline Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Junko Furuta (古田順子 Furuta Junko) was a Japanese girl who was murdered in one of Japans most infamous crimes. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

References