According to researchers, infanticide was one of the most often prosecuted crimes. Analysis of the infanticida! mother's environment, based on judicial records, will reveal the roles played by such women, what were the moral practices and survival strategies of these women, and particularly the nature of the social ties at the time the crime was committed. The infanticide's defence strategy before the court, her story, will be juxtaposed to the stories of the witnesses and occasionally the second infanticide suspect - the child's father. His responsibility and punishment will also be analysed.