Citation

Chan ACY, Beh PSL, Broadhurst RG. Homicide Stud. 2010; 14(4): 400-418.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1088767910382215

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Among 112 homicides involving sexual intimates that occurred in Hong Kong between 1989 and 2002, 38% ( n = 42) of offenders remained voluntarily at the homicide scene, 21% (n = 24) committed suicide, 20% (n = 22) escaped and denied involvement, 13% (n = 14) disposed or hid the body of their victim, and 9% (n = 10) escaped but later voluntarily surrendered. This study used police investigation reports, coroner’s reports, witness statements, and other relevant documents to compare these five types of postkilling behavior. The type of response was explained by the offender’s characteristics, the strength of attachment to the victim, and situational factors. The offender’s prior criminal conduct or history of violence was not significant in predicting the type of postkilling response.