Spousal Homicide

This chapter turns to the extreme manifestation of violence in the context of a relationship with two adults that share or no longer share their lives and bodies, through marriage or consensual union. We are talking about spousal homicide. What we see today as spousal homicide means that yesterday it was spousal violence. A significant number of spousal homicides imply years of violent episodes. It could also happen when the victim makes the decision to abandon the abusive relationship. Women are seven times more likely to be the victims of spousal homicide in an intimate relationship than be murdered by a stranger. Spousal homicide, being the most common type of domestic homicide, is also the most dominant in homicides that are followed by a self-destructing act like suicide or a suicide attempt.