Table 7
Solved homicides by accused-victim relationship, Canada, 2010

Table 7
Solved homicides by accused-victim relationship, Canada, 2010
Relationship typeNote 1
(victims killed by)
2010 2009 2000 to 2009
number of victims percent number of victims percent Average number of victims percent
Family relationship  
Spousal relationship 65 15.7 65 14.3 77 17.1
Legal husband/wife 19 4.6 26 5.7 26 5.8
Common-law husband/wife 31 7.5 22 4.8 29 6.5
Separated or divorced husband/wife 5 1.2 6 1.3 14 3.2
Separated common-law husband/wifeNote 2 8 1.9 10 2.2 7 1.5
Same-sex spouseNote 3 2 0.5 1 0.2 1 0.1
Other family relationship 75 18.1 87 19.1 83 18.3
Father or motherNote 4 25 6.0 34 7.5 31 6.8
Son or daughterNote 4 21 5.1 19 4.2 21 4.5
Sibling 13 3.1 9 2.0 9 2.0
Extended familyNote 5 16 3.9 25 5.5 22 4.9
Total family relationship 140 33.8 152 33.3 160 35.3
Acquaintance  
Boyfriend or girlfriendNote 6 24 5.8 23 5.0 19 4.2
Close friend 26 6.3 36 7.9 32 7.0
Neighbour 13 3.1 12 2.6 13 2.8
Authority figure 2 0.5 0 0.0 2 0.4
Business relationship (legal) 3 0.7 8 1.8 8 1.8
Casual acquaintance 98 23.7 97 21.3 98 21.7
Total acquaintance relationship 166 40.1 176 38.6 172 37.8
Criminal relationshipNote 7 36 8.7 45 9.9 49 10.8
Stranger 72 17.4 83 18.2 73 16.0
Unknown relationship 2 1 4
Total solved homicides 416 100.0 457 100.0 458 100.0
Unsolved homicides 138 153 140
Total homicides 554 610 597
… not applicable
1. Includes solved homicides with a known accused. If there were more than one accused, only the closest relationship to the victim was recorded.
2. 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 2009.
3. Includes current and former same-sex spouses.
4. Includes biological, adopted, step and foster relationships.
5. Includes nieces, nephews, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins, in-laws, etc. related by blood, marriage (including common-law) or adoption.
6. Includes current and former dating relationships, same-sex dating relationships as well as other intimate relationships.
7. Includes, for example, prostitutes, drug dealers and their clients, loan sharks, and gang members. It should be noted that some gang-related homicides may have been scored as "acquaintance".
Note: Estimates prior to 2010 may differ from previously published figures due to ongoing updates to the data files as new information becomes available.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Homicide Survey.
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