Murder and Serious Sexual Assault - Lancaster EPrints - Lancaster ...

MURDERERS AND SERIOUS SEXUAL OFFENDERS – A BRIEF DESCRIPTION
For this study, HI data on method of killing were combined into eight categories
found to be useful in previous work (Soothill, Francis, Ackerley and Collett, 1999).
An initial question was whether the type of method used differed between those
with previous convictions and those without. For example, it might be reasonable to
expect that those with previous convictions may be closer to the criminal fraternity
and therefore have access to firearms. Table 4 shows the sample of 569 murderers
divided into those with and without previous convictions, and separated into eight
categories according to the method used in the murder.
Arguably, the surprises are the similarities rather than the differences. In both
groups, around one in ten persons shot their victim and around one in seven killed
by strangulation/asphyxiation/drowning. The largest category, where a sharp
instrument was used, did not reveal a significant difference at the five per cent level.
Only the ‘other’ method showed significantly different results for those with and
without previous convictions. This is, however, a small ‘catch-all’ category covering
such diverse methods as exposure of a newly born child, causing to fall against a
hard surface and striking with a motor vehicle.
Table 4: Method used to murder and previous criminal history
No previous Previous
convictions convictions
No. % No. %
Sharp instrument 81 44.5 141 36.4
Blunt instrument 23 12.6 58 15.0
Hitting/kicking 24 13.2 71 18.3
Strangulation/asphyxiation/drowning 29 15.9 54 14.0
Arson 2 1.1 2 0.5
Shooting 17 9.3 38 9.8
Other (a) 2 1.1 18 4.7
Unknown 4 2.2 5 1.3
TOTAL 182 100.0 387 100.0
Significant differences (at the 5% level) are shown in bold
(a) In this study, ‘other’ method consists of the HI categories: exhaust fumes; other poisoning; exposure
of newly-born child; negligence or neglect; aborting; explosion; causing to fall against a hard
surface; burning, scalding; and struck by motor vehicle, as well as the HI category of ‘other’.
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