Table 8
Solved homicides by accused-victim relationship, Canada

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Standard table symbols

Relationship type1
(victims killed by)		 2009 2008 Average
1999 to 2008
number of victims percent number of victims percent number of victims percent
Family relationship
Spousal relationship
Husband (legal)
 22 4.9 22 5.2 23 5.1
Husband (common-law)
 13 2.9 10 2.4 20 4.4
Husband (legal, separated and divorced)2
 6 1.3 9 2.1 15 3.3
Husband (common-law, separated)3
 8 1.8 4 0.9 2 0.5
Wife (legal)
 4 0.9 6 1.4 3 0.7
Wife (common-law)
 9 2.0 10 2.4 10 2.2
Wife (legal, separated and divorced)2
 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.3
Wife (common-law, separated)3
 2 0.4 1 0.2 0 0.1
Same-sex spouse (current or former)4
 1 0.2 0 0.0 1 0.2
Total spousal
65 14.3 62 14.7 74 16.7
Non-spousal relationship
Father5
 24 5.3 18 4.3 20 4.5
Mother5
 10 2.2 5 1.2 11 2.4
Son/daughter5
 19 4.2 20 4.7 21 4.6
Sibling
 9 2.0 10 2.4 9 2.0
Other family relation6
 25 5.5 26 6.1 21 4.8
Total non-spousal
87 19.2 79 18.7 82 18.3
Total family 152 33.6 141 33.3 156 35.0
Acquaintance
Boyfriend and other intimate (current or former)7
 20 4.4 24 5.7 16 3.6
Girlfriend and other intimate (current or former)7
3 0.7 3 0.7 3 0.7
Close friend
 36 7.9 27 6.4 31 6.9
Neighbour
 12 2.6 17 4.0 13 2.8
Authority figure
 0 0.0 1 0.2 2 0.5
Business relationship (legal)
 8 1.8 6 1.4 9 2.0
Casual acquaintance
 98 21.6 97 22.9 98 22.0
Total acquaintance 177 39.1 175 41.4 171 38.4
Criminal relationship8 42 9.3 37 8.7 48 10.7
Stranger 82 18.1 70 16.5 71 15.9
Unknown relationship 1 ... 1 ... 4 ...
Total solved homicides 454 100.0 424 100.0 450 100.0
Unsolved homicides 156 ... 187 ... 137 ...
Total homicides 610 ... 611 ... 587 ...
... not applicable
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 same-sex boyfriend and/or girlfriend or other intimate relationships.
8. 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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