HOMICIDE-SUICIDE IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Thirty-nine incidents of homicide-suicide occurring in Victoria, Austr alia between 1985 and 1989 were examined. In 33 cases the assailants w ere men. The victims were spouses or women living in a de facto marria ge. The majority of the victims were shot, and this was also the most frequent method of suicide. Breakdown in a relationship was the most f requent reason for killing. Mental illness of the assailant accounted for the killing in approximately 20% of cases. Physical ill health and financial stress were identified as important associative factors, pa rticularly in the elderly. The pattern of homicide-suicide in Victoria is similar to that observed in other jurisdictions and represents an important and distinct subgroup of homicide.