Although children are warned not to take sweets from strangers it is a fact that about 75% of child murders are committed by parents or close relatives. Luckily child murders that are committed by strangers are not as common as that with adults but when they do occur they are often sexually motivated. The reason for this is simply that there are not many other reasons which would result in murder. It is unlikely that a child would have money or any other valuables that an adult May require.

Something that is thankfully even less common is child murder which is carried out by children. A recent case is that of James Bolger who was murdered by two other boys. The reason for this is more likely curiostity or the inability to understand the consequences of any possible actions.