What differentiates sexual from non-sexual homicides? A case–control study

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6192550
AutoresGuacira Cesar De Oliveira (0000-0002-2468-1248, University Center of Brasília, autor correspondente), Alexandre Martins Valença (0000-0002-5744-2112, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro), Tomos Jones (0000-0002-9052-4398, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust), Michaela Eichinger (Maastricht University), Isabel Weise Valdés (Maastricht University), Michael Davis (0000-0001-8575-6613, Swinburne University of Technology), Michael R Davis (0000-0002-2597-8051, The University of Melbourne), Rajan Darjee (0000-0002-8534-128X, Swinburne University of Technology)
Ano2025
Volume49
Fascículo3
Páginas249-269
Data de publicação2025-07-03
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0192-4036 • E-ISSN: 2157-6475
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01924036.2024.2397975
OpenAlexW4402605871
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas77

Research comparing sexual homicide (SH) and non-sexual homicide (NSH) has been rare outside North America and Europe and has contributed to addressing whether SH is primarily a sexual or homicide offence or a hybrid. This case–control study compared 142 SH and 142 NSH cases from Australia and New Zealand. Bivariate analyses indicated SH offenders more often had sexual problems, lacked intimacy, and appeared more prosocial, had less serious mental health problems, with lifestyles giving opportunities to access victims. Planning rather than reacting, sexual fantasies and arousal, time, and isolation to interact with victims privately, control of victims and crime scenes, lack of remorse, reliving the experience later, preventing detection, and more intrusive, intimate, and sadistic interactions characterised SH offences. Victims were more likely to be strangers, unrelated, single, and living alone. We developed multivariate models to predict SH, with the final model including: offender single, with a sexual disorder, but not a substance use disorder or major mental illness; offence long in duration, with expressive physical violence and unusual or ritualistic features, against a stranger, in an isolated location. These results are consistent with previous studies and indicate SH is different from NSH, supporting differential practice with SH. However, the findings could primarily reflect the over representation of sexual sadism in SH and the over representation of intimate partner victims in NSH. Future research needs to consider the heterogeneity of SH

Criminology · Economics · Political science · Sexual violence · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Psychology · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending · Social Psychology