Canada homicide statistics 1999
The Daily
18 October 2000
The national homicide rate declined to its lowest point in more than three decades in 1999; 536 individuals were killed, 22 fewer than in 1998.
The 1999 rate was 1.76 homicides for every 100,000 population, down 4% to its lowest level since 1967. The homicide rate has generally been decreasing since the mid-1970s, following increases during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1999, Canada's rate was less than one third that of the United States, but higher than most European countries.
Consistent with previous years, almost 90% of accused persons were male, as were two-thirds of homicide victims.
Forty-five youths aged 12 to 17 were accused of homicide in 1999, 12 fewer than in 1998. Over the past decade, the rate of youths accused of homicide has remained relatively stable, while the rate for adults has decreased.
Ninety-four percent of the 503 separate homicide incidents involved a single victim, and 6% were multiple-victim incidents. There were 29 multiple-victim incidents in 1999, up from 24 the previous year. Twenty-six of these incidents involved two victims, 2 involved three victims, and 1 involved four victims. Half of those killed in multiple-victim incidents were family members of the accused.
Note to readers
Statistics on homicides in 1999 were originally released in The Daily on July 18, 2000 as part of a wide-ranging report on crime. This report represents a more detailed analysis of the homicide data.
Criminal homicide is classified as first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter or infanticide. Deaths caused by criminal negligence, suicide, accidental or justifiable homicides are not included in this definition.
Forty, or about 8% of all homicide incidents were murder-suicides. Ninety percent of murder-suicides were family-related. There were 52 victims of murder-suicide in 1999, up from 45 the previous year.
Nearly one in three homicides involved firearms
Thirty-one percent of homicides committed in 1999 involved firearms. Firearms were used in 165 homicides, up from 151 in 1998, which was the lowest level since data were first collected nationally in 1961.
Handguns were used in 55% of all firearm homicides, a proportion that has remained relatively constant since 1991. In addition to 89 victims killed by handguns, 58 were killed by a rifle or shotgun, 6 by a sawed-off rifle or shotgun, 6 by a fully automatic firearm, and 6 by other types of firearms.
After shootings, the most common methods used to commit homicide in 1999 were stabbings (27%), beatings (23%) and strangulation (10%). There were also seven infants killed by repeated shaking, commonly known as "shaken baby syndrome."
The majority of firearm-related deaths are a result of suicide. Each year there are about five times as many suicides involving firearms as homicides.
Spousal homicides
Spousal homicides include people in registered marriages and common-law relationships, as well as those who were separated or divorced. In 1999, 71 individuals were killed by a current or ex-spouse, up slightly from 70 the previous year. Spousal homicides have gradually declined from more than 100 each year during the early 1990s.
Four of five victims of spousal homicide are female. In 1999, 60 women were killed by a current or ex-spouse, including 2 by a same-sex spouse. By comparison, 11 men were killed by a current or ex-spouse, including 2 by a same-sex spouse.
A further 17 women were killed by a current or ex-boyfriend and 3 men by a current or ex-girlfriend. In all, 51% of all female homicide victims were killed by someone with whom they had an intimate relationship, compared with 6% of male victims.
Most victims knew their assailant
Homicides continue to be committed primarily by someone known to the victim. In 1999, 49% of victims in solved homicide incidents were killed by an acquaintance, 35% by a family member, and 15% by a stranger. Of the 60 victims killed by a stranger in 1999, 32 were the result of a precipitating crime, most commonly robbery. The rate of homicides committed by a stranger has remained relatively stable over the past 10 years, while family and acquaintance homicides have been decreasing.
| Solved homicides by accused-victim relationship | ||||
| Relationship type (victims killed by:) | 1999 | Average 1989 to 1998 | ||
| number of victims | % | number of victims | % | |
| Family relationship | ||||
| Husband (legal and common-law) | 38 | 9.4 | 56 | 10.8 |
| Husband (separated and divorced) | 20 | 5.0 | 15 | 2.9 |
| Same sex spouse | 3 | 0.7 | ... | ... |
| Wife (legal and common-law) | 8 | 2.0 | 19 | 3.6 |
| Wife (separated and divorced) | 2 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.3 |
| Total spousal | 71 | 17.6 | 91 | 17.6 |
| Father | 22 | 5.4 | 27 | 5.2 |
| Mother | 9 | 2.2 | 18 | 3.4 |
| Child | 18 | 4.5 | 19 | 3.6 |
| Sibling | 7 | 1.7 | 11 | 2.1 |
| Other family relation | 16 | 4.0 | 22 | 4.2 |
| Total family | 143 | 35.4 | 187 | 36.1 |
| Acquaintance | ||||
| Ex-boyfriend and -girlfriend | 20 | 5.0 | 21 | 4.1 |
| Close acquaintance | 29 | 7.2 | 42 | 8.0 |
| Authority figure | 4 | 1.0 | ... | ... |
| Business associate (legal) | 14 | 3.5 | 14 | 2.7 |
| Criminal relationships | 28 | 6.9 | 29 | 5.6 |
| Neighbour | 12 | 3.0 | 24 | 4.6 |
| Casual acquaintance | 91 | 22.5 | 124 | 23.9 |
| Total types acquaintance | 198 | 49.0 | 253 | 49.0 |
| Stranger | 60 | 14.9 | 73 | 14.1 |
| Unknown relationship | 3 | 0.7 | 4 | 0.8 |
| Total solved homicides | 404 | 100.0 | 517 | 100.0 |
| ... Figures not appropriate or not applicable | ||||
A total of 36 children under the age of 12 were killed in 1999, down substantially from 55 in 1998 and the average of 53 over the past decade. Of the cases solved by police, almost 80% of these children were killed by a parent, and the remainder by an acquaintance of the family.
Almost two-thirds of accused had a criminal record
Sixty-four percent of people accused of homicide in 1999 had a previous criminal record. The majority of these individuals had previously been convicted of a violent crime.
Of the seven accused who had previously been convicted of homicide, six were charged with committing the homicide while in a correctional facility while serving time for a previous homicide, and one had completed the previous homicide sentence and was living in the community when charged. In addition, 41% of homicide victims had a criminal record.
Police reported 44 gang-related homicides in 1999, mostly involving drug trafficking and the settling of accounts. Gang-related homicides have been on the increase since 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, police reported an average of 19 gang-related homicides each year. Since 1995, however, these numbers have doubled.
The illegal drug trade is generally believed to be linked to many types of crimes, including homicide. In 1999, police reported that 60 homicide incidents, or one in eight, were drug-related. Of the 64 victims of drug-related homicides, 47 were reported by the police to be "drug dealers."
Available on CANSIM: tables 160402 to 160404 and 160406 to 160408.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Information and Client Services (1-800-387-2231; 613-951-9023), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
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