Table 2.
Offence characteristics of perpetrators of homicides in England and Wales, 1996-9, and relationship to victim. Values are numbers (percentages) unless stated otherwise
| Characteristic | Stranger (n=358) | Known (n=1074) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perpetrator | |||
| Male | 353 (99) | 925 (86) | <0.001 |
| Age 18-30 | 245 (68) | 505 (47) | <0.001 |
| >1 victim | 8 (2) | 37 (3) | 0.26 |
| Victim | |||
| Male | 312 (87) | 683 (64) | <0.001 |
| Age <30 | 140 (39) | 461 (43) | 0.021 |
| Method of killing | |||
| Blunt instrument | 46 (13) | 147 (14) | 0.66 |
| Sharp instrument | 116 (32) | 425 (40) | 0.01 |
| Hitting, kicking, or pushing | 130 (36) | 145 (14) | <0.001 |
| Strangulation or suffocation | 19 (5) | 130 (12) | <0.001 |
| Shooting | 22 (6) | 46 (4) | 0.15 |
| Other | 24 (7) | 165 (15) | <0.001 |
| Outcome | |||
| Murder | 207 (58) | 485 (45) | <0.001 |
| Manslaughter: | |||
| Diminished responsibility | 13 (4) | 131 (12) | <0.001 |
| Other* | 136 (38) | 435 (41) | 0.400 |
| Infanticide | 0 (0) | 12 (1) | <0.05 |
| Unfit to plead | 2 (1) | 5 (0.5) | 0.56 |
| Insane | 0 (0) | 6 (1) | 0.18 |
| Disposal | |||
| Prison | 346 (97) | 922 (86) | <0.001 |
| Hospital | 10 (3) | 88 (8) | 0.001 |
| Other† | 2 (1) | 59 (5) | 0.001 |
Denominators may vary owing to missing data.
*
Includes provocation and self defence.
†
Mainly probation.