Table 8
Solved homicides by accused-victim relationship, Canada

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Standard table symbols

Relationship type1
(victims killed by)		 2008 2007r Average 1998 to 2007
number of victims percent number of victims percent number of victims percent
Family relationship
Spousal relationship
Husband (legal) 22 5.2 17 4.1 23 5.1
Husband (common-law) 10 2.4 21 5.0 21 4.5
Husband (legal, separated and divorced)2 9 2.1 6 1.4 15 3.3
Husband (common-law, separated)3 4 0.9 5 1.2 6 1.3
Wife (legal) 6 1.4 4 1.0 3 0.7
Wife (common-law) 10 2.4 8 1.9 10 2.1
Wife (legal, separated and divorced)2 0 0.0 0 0.0 2 0.3
Wife (common-law, separated)3 1 0.2 0 0.0 1 0.1
Same-sex spouse (current or former)4 0 0.0 1 0.2 1 0.2
Total spousal 62 14.7 62 14.9 80 17.7
Non-spousal relationship
Father5 18 4.3 13 3.1 22 4.8
Mother5 5 1.2 8 1.9 12 2.6
Son/daughter5 20 4.7 21 5.0 20 4.5
Sibling 10 2.4 7 1.7 9 2.0
Other family relation6 26 6.1 23 5.5 21 4.6
Total non-spousal 79 18.7 72 17.3 83 18.5
Total family 141 33.3 134 32.1 163 36.2
Acquaintance
Boyfriend, girlfriend other intimate (current or former) 27 6.4 19 4.6 17 3.8
Close friend 27 6.4 25 6.0 31 6.9
Neighbour 17 4.0 4 1.0 13 2.8
Authority figure 1 0.2 2 0.5 2 0.5
Business relationship (legal) 6 1.4 7 1.7 10 2.1
Casual acquaintance 96 22.7 97 23.3 98 21.8
Total acquaintance 174 41.1 154 36.9 171 37.9
Criminal relationship7 37 8.7 61 14.6 47 10.4
Stranger 70 16.5 67 16.1 70 15.6
Unknown relationship 1 0.2 1 0.2 4 1.0
Total solved homicides 423 100.0 417 100.0 451 100.0
Unsolved homicides 188 ... 177 ... 131 ...
Total homicides 611 ... 594 ... 581 ...
1. Includes only those homicides in which there were known accused. If there were more than one accused, only the closest relationship to the victim was recorded.
2. Includes separated common-law prior to 2005.
3. Separated common-law husband and separated common-law wife were not introduced to the survey until 2005, therefore the average number and percent are calculated from 2005 to 2007.
4. Separate variables for same-sex spouse and ex-same-sex spouse were created in 2005.
5. Includes biological, adopted, step and foster relationships.
6. Includes nieces, nephews, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins, in-laws, etc. related by blood, marriage (including common-law) or adoption.
7. Includes prostitutes, drug dealers and their clients, loansharks, gang members. It should be noted that some gang homicides are scored under "acquaintance".
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Homicide Survey.
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