Table 7
Homicides by closest accused to victim relationship, Canada, 2017 and 2018


Table 7
Homicides by closest accused to victim relationship, Canada, 2017 and 2018
Table summary
This table displays the results of Homicides by closest accused to victim relationship. The information is grouped by Relationship type (victim killed by) (appearing as row headers), Closest accused to victim relationship, 2018, 2017 and Average 2008 to 2017, calculated using number of victims, percent and rate units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Relationship typeTable 7 Note 1 (victim killed by) Closest accused to victim relationship
2018 2017Note r: revised Average 2008 to 2017
number of victims percentTable 7 Note 2 rateTable 7 Note 3 number of victims percentTable 7 Note 2 rateTable 7 Note 3 number of victims percentTable 7 Note 2
Family relationship 138 33.1 0.37 145 30.2 0.40 148 32.4
Spousal relationship 62 14.9 Note ...: not applicable 53 11.0 Note ...: not applicable 62 13.5
Legal husband/wife 23 5.5 Note ...: not applicable 16 3.3 Note ...: not applicable 22 4.8
Common-law husband/wife 30 7.2 Note ...: not applicable 23 4.8 Note ...: not applicable 25 5.4
Separated or divorced husband/wife 2 0.5 Note ...: not applicable 8 1.7 Note ...: not applicable 7 1.5
Separated common-law husband/wife 5 1.2 Note ...: not applicable 5 1.0 Note ...: not applicable 7 1.4
Same-sex spouseTable 7 Note 4 2 0.5 Note ...: not applicable 1 0.2 Note ...: not applicable 2 0.3
Other family relationshipTable 7 Note 5 76 18.2 Note ...: not applicable 92 19.2 Note ...: not applicable 86 18.8
Father or mother 16 3.8 Note ...: not applicable 25 5.2 Note ...: not applicable 25 5.5
Son or daughter 30 7.2 Note ...: not applicable 34 7.1 Note ...: not applicable 28 6.0
Sibling 7 1.7 Note ...: not applicable 6 1.3 Note ...: not applicable 10 2.1
Extended familyTable 7 Note 6 23 5.5 Note ...: not applicable 27 5.6 Note ...: not applicable 24 5.1
Intimate relationship (non-spousal)Table 7 Note 7 25 6.0 Note ...: not applicable 28 5.8 Note ...: not applicable 24 5.2
Acquaintance 140 33.6 0.38 155 32.3 0.42 166 36.3
Close friend 38 9.1 Note ...: not applicable 33 6.9 Note ...: not applicable 33 7.2
Neighbour 15 3.6 Note ...: not applicable 25 5.2 Note ...: not applicable 15 3.3
Authority or reverse authority figure 1 0.2 Note ...: not applicable 1 0.2 Note ...: not applicable 3 0.7
Business relationship 6 1.4 Note ...: not applicable 5 1.0 Note ...: not applicable 8 1.7
Casual acquaintance 80 19.2 Note ...: not applicable 91 19.0 Note ...: not applicable 107 23.3
Criminal relationshipTable 7 Note 8 33 7.9 0.09 64 13.3 0.18 44 9.6
Stranger 81 19.4 0.22 88 18.3 0.24 76 16.5
Unknown relationship 18 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 6 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 4 Note ...: not applicable
Total solved homicidesTable 7 Note 9 435 100.0 Note ...: not applicable 486 100.0 Note ...: not applicable 463 100.0
Unsolved homicides 216 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 180 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 124 Note ...: not applicable
Total homicides 651 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 666 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 586 Note ...: not applicable
... not applicable
r revised
Note 1

Includes homicides with a known accused. If there were more than one accused, only the closest relationship to the victim was recorded.

Return to note 1 referrer

Note 2

Solved homicides where the type of relationship was unknown are excluded from the calculation of percentages.

Return to note 2 referrer

Note 3

Rates are calculated per 100,000 population using revised July 1st, 2018 population estimates from Statistics Canada, Demography Division.

Return to note 3 referrer

Note 4

Includes current and former same-sex spouses.

Return to note 4 referrer

Note 5

Includes biological, adopted, step, and foster relationships.

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Note 6

Includes nieces, nephews, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins, in-laws, etc., related by blood, marriage (including common-law) or adoption.

Return to note 6 referrer

Note 7

Includes dating relationships (current and former) and other intimate relationships.

Return to note 7 referrer

Note 8

Includes, for example, drug dealers, and their clients, loan sharks, or gang members. When more than one relationship applies (e.g., criminal relationship and close friend), police are asked to report the primary relationship.

Return to note 8 referrer

Note 9

Includes homicides with a known accused.

Return to note 9 referrer

Note: There may be a small number of homicides included in a given year's total that occurred in previous years. Homicides are counted according to the year in which they are reported to Statistics Canada. Percentages may not add up due to rounding. The sum of averages may not add up to the total average due to rounding.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Homicide Survey.
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