Homicide-suicide in the Netherlands: A study of newspaper reports, 1992 – 2005

Abstract

Background: Homicides followed by the suicide of the perpetrator are a rare yet very serious form of interpersonal violence which occurs mainly in partnerships and families. It typically leads to widespread public interest and unease. No systematic research on homicide-suicide has ever been conducted in the Netherlands.

Aim: The aim of this study is to describe the nature and incidence of homicide-suicide in the Netherlands in the period 1992 – 2005, using cases reported in both national and regional newspapers.

Results: On the basis of newspaper accounts, homicide-suicide occurred on average seven times per year during this time period. Spousal/consortial homicide-suicide was predominant, followed by homicide-suicide involving the perpetrator's own children and familicide-suicide. The perpetrators across all categories of homicide-suicide were predominantly male; the victims were predominantly women and children. Firearms were used in the majority of the homicides and subsequent suicides.

Conclusion: The domestic nature of homicide-suicide events is discussed. Future research should aim to incorporate multiple methods in order to assess accurately the epidemiology of homicide-suicide in the Netherlands.

Keywords:

• Homicide-suicide
• murder-suicide
• family homicide
• extended suicide
• media reporting
• newspaper surveillance

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Lucien van de Horn for collecting and supplying newspaper articles about homicide-suicide. This research has been made possible by the Gispen Fund.

Notes

1 In the remainder of this article, ‘homicide-suicide’ indicates the number of events, rather than the number of perpetrators or victims, unless otherwise mentioned.

2 Marzuk et al. (1992) included a fourth subcategory in which the perpetrator is a child under the age of 16. Because no perpetrator in the sample fulfilled this criterion, this category has been omitted.

3 In all the years under study, all spousal/consortial homicide-suicides were classified as motivated by amorous jealousy, except for the years 1997 and 2002; in each of these years one case of homicide-suicide motivated by ill health was found.

4 For the sake of clarity, the categories ‘other’ and ‘extrafamilial’ were grouped together.