Adelaide University CENTRE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY RESEARCH

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TitleSouth Australian murder-suicides (2003–2022)
AuthorsLynch TH, van den Heuvel C, Stephenson L, Baldock MRJ, Tuckwell GA, Byard RW
Year2026
TypeJournal Article
AbstractDespite long-standing recognition of the homicide subtype of ‘murder-suicides’ (M-S) in Australia and South Australia (SA), contemporary analysis remains limited. This study provides a case review of M-S in SA, extending a previous study of cases from 1996 to 2007. A retrospective study was conducted of 363 adult (≥18-years) homicide autopsy cases from Forensic Science SA (FSSA) over a 20-year period (2003–2022), in which 10 adult M-S victims were identified (excluding the offender’s suicide). M-S comprised 2.75% of all adult homicides in SA over the 20-year period. The mean population-adjusted M-S rate was 0.03 (SD ± 0.04) per 100,000 population, and the mean population-adjusted homicide rate was 1.09 (SD ± 0.31) per 100,000 population. Females represented 80% of cases (n = 8). The mean age of M-S victims was 59.40 (SD ± 26.15) years. All 10 M-S were classified as domestic homicides (9 = intimate partner homicides; 1 = parricide homicide). Causes of death (COD) included asphyxia (n = 6). The current study highlights an overrepresentation of intimate partner relationships and female victims in M-S. These findings highlight domestic contexts as an important consideration for future research and prevention efforts.
Journal TitleAustralian Journal of Forensic Sciences
Page Range1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/00450618.2026.2654425

Reference
Lynch TH, van den Heuvel C, Stephenson L, Baldock MRJ, Tuckwell GA, Byard RW (2026). South Australian murder-suicides (2003–2022). Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/00450618.2026.2654425.