[A comparison of homicide-suicide and domestic homicide in the region of basle, Switzerland]

Abstract

Background: Homicide-suicide and domestic homicide without consecutive suicide might be regarded as an extreme form of domestic violence. According to the national crime-register, however, there might be some relevant differences between the perpetrators of the two.

Method: The files of all cases of homicide-suicide (n = 24) and of all cases of domestic homicide without suicide (n = 21), which had been examined at the Institute of forensic medicine in Basle between 1987 und 2006, were compared.

Results: Perpetrators of domestic homicide without suicide were significantly younger, had a poorer educational background and were rather foreigners. About two thirds of the perpetrators of homicide-suicide used a gun compared with only one third of those committing domestic homicide.

Discussion: Measures as they are known from suicide prevention programmes like limiting the access to lethal instruments like guns might be useful in the case of homicide-suicide, measures for the prevention of domestic homicide should aim at better integration and education of the perpetrators and their family.