Table 3.10
Senior victims of family-related and non-family homicide, by victim sex and type of motive, Canada, 2008 to 2018


Table 3.10
Senior victims of family-related and non-family homicide, by victim sex and type of motive, Canada, 2008 to 2018
Table summary
This table displays the results of Senior victims of family-related and non-family homicide. The information is grouped by Type of motive (appearing as row headers), Female victims, Male victims and Total victims, calculated using number and percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Type of motive Female victims Male victims Total victims
number percent number percent number percent
Family-related homicide
Frustration, anger or despair 43 41 22 32 65 37
Argument or quarrel 30 28 32 47 62 36
Mercy killingTable 3.10 Note 1 5 5 1 1 6 3
Jealousy 4 4 0 0 4 2
Revenge 2 2 1 1 3 2
OtherTable 3.10 Note 2 8 8 5 7 13 7
No apparent motiveTable 3.10 Note 3 14 13 7 10 21 12
Unknown 17 Note ...: not applicable 7 Note ...: not applicable 24 Note ...: not applicable
Total 123 100 75 100 198 100
Non-family homicide
Frustration, anger or despair 26 39 30 19 56 25
Argument or quarrel 5 8 39 25 44 20
Mercy killingTable 3.10 Note 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jealousy 1 2 5 3 6 3
Revenge 1 2 8 5 9 4
OtherTable 3.10 Note 2 20 30 45 29 65 29
No apparent motiveTable 3.10 Note 3 13 20 29 19 42 19
Unknown 7 Note ...: not applicable 10 Note ...: not applicable 17 Note ...: not applicable
Total 73 100 166 100 239 100
... not applicable
Note 1

Includes all homicides where the accused person's primary motive was a mercy killing or to assist a suicide (i.e., when a family member or caregiver kills to relieve a victim's chronic physical pain or suffering).

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Note 2

Includes financial gain, concealment, and sexual violence.

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Note 3

Includes mental illness and dementia.

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Note: In 34% of incidents of family-related homicide against seniors where a single victim and a single accused person were involved, police determined that a history of family violence preceded the homicide. Family-related homicide refers to homicide committed by spouses (legally married, separated, divorced and common-law), children (biological, step, adopted and foster), siblings (biological, step, half, adopted and foster) and extended family members (e.g., grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws). Victims refer to those aged 65 years and older. Excludes victims of unsolved homicides, and victims where the sex or the age was unknown or where the accused-victim relationship was unknown. Percentages have been calculated excluding unknown motives. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Homicide Survey.
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