Ignored Victims: Examining Corollary Victimisation in Intimate Partner Homicide in Queenland, Australia

• In Event: Intimate Partner Homicides, Familicides and Victim Perspectives

Abstract

Corollary victimization in intimate partner homicide (IPH), in which individuals outside of the romantic relationship are also murdered, remains underexamined in the Australian context. Although international research suggests that children, new partners, and bystanders comprise 20–30% of total fatalities in IPH incidents, the prevalence and risk factors of these collateral deaths in Australia are unclear (Dobash & Dobash, 2012; Lyons et al., 2020). While firearm access is strongly associated with an elevated risk of multi-victim IPH in the United States, Australia’s stringent gun regulations may alter these dynamics, amplifying other lethal methods such as blunt force, knives, or arson (Campbell, 2003; Sarkar et al., 2021). This has implications for crime prevention efforts. Understanding these patterns is crucial, as IPH does not only affect the primary victim but has far-reaching consequences for entire communities. To address this knowledge gap, the present study analyzes IPH incidents in Queensland from 2008 to 2021 using Queensland Police Service (QPS) crime incident data. These records capture detailed information on offense types, case outcomes, and offender-victim characteristics. All analyses are conducted within the secure Social Analytics Lab (SAL) at the Griffith Criminology Institute. Results and implications will be discussed, offering potential insights for prevention strategies and policy responses.

Authors

• Nadine M Connell, Griffith University

• Alessia Iancarelli, Northeastern University