Stranger Homicide in Canada: A National Sample and a Psychiatric Sample

Abstract

ships such as romantic involvements or rivalries exist; it is, however, difficult to comprehend when total strangers have been killed. In this Article, acquaintance killers and stranger killers are examined in two studies. These studies--a national sample and a pyschiatric sample-are compared on the basis of several factors identified as pertinent to homicide in general. These factors are: mental illness, history of violence, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual problems, and biological factors.' Each of these factors will be reviewed briefly, with special reference to stranger homicide. The national sample of homicides will be examined for the demographic features of stranger killers and for the ascertained circumstances of the offenses such as weapon, location, substance abuse, and motivation for the crime. The psychiatric sample of killers will be examined for the same variables, as well as for diagnosis, personality, parent-child relations, and other pertinent clinical variables.