Murder by arson on increase In Australia
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Murder by arson on increase In Australia
*
By Mark Schliebs
August 27, 2007 01:03pm
Article from: NEWS.com.au
A GROWING number of criminals are burning their victims to death while
overall homicide incidents are falling, according to a new report.
The number of fire-associated homicides has more than doubled since
1990, despite the crime being considered “uncommon” by law agencies,
according to the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC).
The research, which examined fire-related homicide in Australia between
1990 and 2005, revealed that 100 people have been killed in a
“fire-associated” homicide in the 16-year period.
In 1990, fire-associated homicide made up for around two per cent of the
total number of killings. In 2005, it accounted for more than four per cent.
Nearly 70 per cent of all victims in the 16-year period were killed by
fire, while a further 29 per cent were burnt after being killed.
AIC director Toni Makkai said a similar increase of the chilling crimes
has been identified overseas.
“The use of fire in homicide is a particularly heinous crime, involving
burning of the victim before or after death,” Ms Makkai said.
“Analysis shows that, while homicide trends over this period have
declined, the proportion of fire-associated homicides has increased
significantly.”
The final report, Fatal fires: fire-associated homicide in Australia
1990-2005, also found that revenge and domestic argument motives made up
for more than two-thirds of the number of deaths by fire.
A quarter of offenders did not know their victims before burning them to
death.
The report also mentioned that the 2000 Childers Backpacker Hostel fire,
in which 15 people died, had brought the public’s attention to the
“heinous” form of crime.