Ontario has the only Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC) in Canada. The DVDRC works under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario. The mandate of the committee is to assist the Office of the Chief Coroner with the investigation and review of deaths involving domestic violence with a view to making recommendations aimed at preventing deaths in similar circumstances and reducing domestic violence in general.
The DVDRC consists of representatives with expertise in domestic violence from law enforcement, criminal justice system, healthcare sector, social services and other public safety agencies and organizations.
As shown in Table 1, there have been a total of 113 fatal domestic incidents that occurred in Ontario between 2002 and 2005 with 148 fatalities involving 99 women, 9 children, and 48 men. The majority of male deaths were suicides (perpetrator of the homicide).
| Year |
Incidents |
Deaths |
Women |
Children |
Men |
| 2005 |
31 |
38 |
29 |
1 |
11 (11 perpetrator deaths) |
| 2004 |
29 |
38 |
24 |
1 |
13 (11 perpetrator deaths) |
| 2003 |
25 |
29 |
23 |
1 |
9 (8 perpetrator deaths) |
| 2002 |
28 |
43 |
23 |
6 |
15 (11 perpetrator deaths) |
| Total: |
113 |
148 |
99 |
9 |
48 (41 perpetrator deaths) |
63% of these cases were homicides; 25% were homicide/suicide; 10% were attempted homicide/suicide; and were 2% attempted homicide and related homicide.
95% of the victims were female and 95% of perpetrators were male. The main cause of death in these incidences was stabbing (33%).
In the 47 cases reviewed between 2002 and 2006:
• 81% of cases indicated couple separated or planning to separate
• 77% of cases indicated a history of domestic violence
• 68% of perpetrators were considered depressed by family, friends, and other non-professionals
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