Nora Markwalder

Homicide–suicide and other violent deaths: An international comparison

Homicides followed by the suicide of the perpetrator constitute a serious form of interpersonal violence. Until now no study has directly compared homicide-suicides to other violent deaths from multiple countries, allowing for a better understanding of the nature of these violent acts. Using country-specific data, this study describes and compares the incidence and patterns of homicide-suicide as well as the relationship between homicide-suicide, homicide, suicide and domestic homicide in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States. The results indicate that cross-nationally, homicide-suicides are more likely than other types of lethal violence to involve a female victim, multiple victims, take place in a residential setting and to be committed by a firearm. Although homicide-suicides display many similarities across the different countries, differences exist regarding age and the use of firearms in the offence. This study indicates that homicides followed by suicides differ from both homicides and suicides in similar ways internationally. Cross-national differences in the availability of firearms may explain the international variation of homicide-suicide rates and patterns.

Homicide in Switzerland

The Swiss chapter on homicide is based on the Swiss Homicide Database (SHD), a nationwide database including premeditated homicidal events in Switzerland between 1980 and 2004. Data are based on autopsy registries from legal medicine institutes and completed by police and court files. The database constitutes a full sample of homicide events in Switzerland for the years 1991–2004, and a partial sample for the years 1980–1990. Information on offender and victim characteristics, circumstances of the homicide as well as legal consequences of the offence are included. Homicide in Switzerland mainly occurs within sentimental partnerships or the family, followed by disputes between friends or acquaintances. Although homicide rates in Switzerland are relatively low in comparison with other European countries, cases of homicide followed by suicide are unusually frequent. Firearms are the modal weapon used in homicide. Swiss rates of gun homicide are among the highest in Europe. The high prevalence of firearm-related casualties is largely due to wide-spread gun availability in Switzerland. As the Swiss military system requires every male Swiss citizen to serve in the militia and to keep his Army equipment at home, prevalence of gun ownership is higher in Switzerland than in other European countries.

Firearms and Homicide in Europe

Violent victimization has often been linked to firearm availability. This research aims to investigate the relationship between firearm availability and the prevalence of violent victimization in several European countries. As firearms legislation differs considerably within European countries, we expect this variation to impact and explain national victimization rates of violent crime. Data on firearm prevalence are obtained through the International Crime Victimization Survey (ICVS), an internationally standardized victimization survey covering over 78 countries. Data were collected in during five sweeps and are available for the years 1989–2005. Data on homicide rates are taken from the European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics.

Roboter in der Verantwortung

Wenn Nao traurig ist, lässt er seine Schultern hängen und blickt nach unten. Wenn er glücklich ist, hebt er seine Arme und ist auf eine Umarmung aus. Ähnliches gilt für Pepper. Er zeigt seine Emotionen und soll ein liebender Kamerad sein. Pepper hat allerdings Angst im Dunkeln und fühlt sich etwas einsam, wenn er zu lange ignoriert wird. Diese Zeilen betreffen nicht etwa Berichte über Nachbarsjungen oder Haustiere. Es sind Charakterisierungen moderner humanoider Roboter, welche unsere Welt und wohl schneller als wir denken auch unseren Alltag mehr und mehr erobern. Nao und Pepper sind keine Einzelfälle. Der beeindruckende und revolutionäre Fortschritt im Rahmen der Robotik ist Realität und wird unsere Zukunft prägen. Und wie jede technologische Entwicklung kann damit gerechnet werden, dass auch diese das Recht verändern wird. Die sich häufenden Schlagzeilen über die Innovationen der Robotik führen allerdings nicht ausschließlich zu Begeisterung, sondern sind auch vermehrt Anlass zu Besorgnis und Bedenken in Bezug auf die sozialen Implikationen dieses