Case Study: Homicide Between Intimate Partners In Australia

Simon Gittany committed the murder in the home (AustLII 2015), the majority of intimate-partner homicides occur in the intimacy of the home where the amount of external social control is very limited (Australian Institute of Criminology 1998).

Offenders and Victims tend to be around a similar age, while offenders of other homicide categories in cases where there is no known relationship, the perpetrators are younger than the victims (Australian Institute of Criminology). Age is inconsistent with the general pattern in this case as Gittany and Ms Harnum were 10 years apart. The dynamics of Mr Gittany and Ms Harnum relationship are consistent with the general pattern concerning gender characteristics. Men are generally driven to commit IPH due to possessive and jealous impulses within the relationship in connection to the threat of separation and control over their spouse (Weizmann-Henelius et al., 2011). There was undoubtable evidence to suggest Mr Gittany was abusive, controlling and domineering within the relationship. He would keep track of her movements by bugging her phone and by surveillance means without Ms Harnums knowledge. Studies show contradictory results, whether mental disorders and personality disorders correlate with IPH. Watt (2008) suggests that cases congruent with spouse batterers, have generally tested positively with a personality disorder, however offenders convicted of IPH rarely have psychopathic traits (Weizmann-Henelius et al., 2011). Although Gittany’s mental health assessment suggested he suffered from depressive,

The type of homicide featured in this case is a domestic homicide, but more specifically, it is an intimate partner homicide (Australian Bureau of Statistics). It is an intimate partner homicide because Simon Gittany and Lisa Harnum were in an intimate relationship when Simon Gittany murdered Lisa Harnum (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015). This case could also be considered a confrontational homicide because it was the result of a fight ‘gone wrong’ (Brookman, 2005, p. 48).

Intimate partner abuse describes physical, sexual, and psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse (Fanslow, McMahon, Saltzman, & Shelley, 2002). Healthy people 2020 recognizes physical violence among intimate partners as a topic that should be addressed concerning injury and violence prevention in the United States (Healthy People 2020, 2014). Intimate Partner Abuse is an issue that often affects entire families, not just the person that is being abused. Several historical studies attempt to make a connection between intimate partner abuse and homeless. Browne 's research showed that 50 percent of the homeless women interviewed were the victims of abuse

Homicide is regarded by our society as one the most serious crimes, thus the appropriateness of the assessment of criminal responsibility is especially important. In Western Australia, the homicide offences are contained in the Western Australian Criminal Code. In 2008, following the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia (LRCWA), there were significant amendments to the Code, especially relating to the murder offences. Presently, the offence of murder is found in section 279 of the Code and details three forms of murder. Of these, sections 279(1)(b) and 279(1)(c) express a test of 'likely to endanger life' to establish criminal responsibility. It is therefore crucial to understand and analyse the term

The population of domestic violence in Australia has allowed some government fund to the community to create many charities and campaigns to raise awareness of its existence to end.

A recent news article cited statistics that suggest domestic violence is increasing dramatically from year to year in West Australia (Pownall, 2012). In 2011, the police in West Australia responded to 39,297 domestic violence calls. This represents a 12.2% increase from the previous year and a 27.0% increase from 2009. Some of the factors blamed for this year to year increase were population growth, creation of domestic violence awareness campaigns, the economic downturn, and drug and alcohol abuse.

The research design of this article is quantitative and further added to that it is also descriptive in its execution. How this is derived from this article is that it is attempting to show systematic information about the given phenomenon; in particular that of substance abuse and how it relates to the systematic variable that is being examined. The identified variable in this case is substance abuse, and how it relates to committing intimate partner violence

World wide intimate partner violence is a serious action, not only for heterosexual relationships, but also for same-sex relationships. In an article IPV was best described as abuse that occurs between two individuals in a close and intimate relationship and usually refers to romantic couples, be they are married, dating, living together, or former partners/ spouses (Samuelson, Kristin W. and Oringher, Jonathan 1). When we think about it, then why have we not heard about IPV in same-sex and even in heterosexual relationships and why isn’t it reported. Researchers have defined IPV as a pattern of behavior in which a current or former partner attempts to control the thoughts, beliefs, or actions of their partner and could include physical, sexual, or psychological harm (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008a). As I gathered information I discovered there is not much information. Why? We know that IPV can be world wide and devastate anyone but we are judgmental to our surroundings and many do not tell anyone about what is going on. Not only can that but IPV be caused by a substance, physical and mental problems.

Even though there are more services and awareness about domestic violence in Australia, it is still an epidemic with 1 in 3 people affected. Those affected usually do not seek support from outside sources due to being scared of the reactions of the perpetrator, fear of not being believed or even fear of what the police or other services may do to their family. This leaves the victim in a vulnerable situation feeling helpless and subjected to more and more violence overtime, increasing risk of suicidality or worse, murder.

Thirty-one percent were intimate partner homicides. Fifty-five percent of female homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner compared with 11 percent of male homicide victims. Indigenous people were overrepresented in intimate partner homicides, one in five victims were Indigenous, as were nearly one in four offenders. 1 woman a week and 1 man a month were killed by a current or former partner in the 2 years from 2012–13 to

Intimate Partner Homicide or IPH refers to any homicide in which a spouse, ex-spouse, person in a former or current de facto relationship, boyfriend or girlfriend murders his or her partner (AIC, 1998). This particular case deals with Femicide, specifically Intimate Partner Femicide, in which a male killed his fiancée by throwing her off the balcony of their shared apartment on the 15th floor. Of the 187 domestic homicides recorded in Australia in the period of 2010-2012, 58% were classified as Intimate Partner Homicide. (AIC, 2015)

The people who hurt us the most are often our loved ones. That is why spousal murder is not a new phenomenon. Since the beginning of time, humans have had a nature of violence and have acted that violence out against another, especially the ones we love the most, like family. This is not surprising. Everyone has had some personal experiences with family violence or has witnessed it at the expense of others. In U.S. society, when a husband or wife is killed, the first person that law enforcement turns to is the spouse. The married partner automatically becomes a suspect. It is also common to assume that the perpetrator, if the couple is not married, could be the boyfriend or girlfriend. What is appalling is the fact that intimate

A friend of mine had experienced conflict with her significant other, and it escalated into violence. They were experiencing the common couple violence. She withheld information from him, with the fear of hurting his feelings, and eventually the boyfriend found out and it escalated from there. While I was not there at the time it started, I received a phone call to come act as a mediator. I do believe that my friends conflict was caused by the chilling effect, which is caused by avoidance and the element of fear. The two ended up verbally abusing each other as I was standing there. The conflict was managed by the boyfriend leaving the house and I could talk to her alone. I feel the conflict was managed the right way by him leaving, instead

My chosen issue is Intimate partner violence. One of New Zealand’s increasing issues is Intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV is recognized as a major public health threat and a significant social issue. IPV is observed as one of the world’s most serious human rights concerns due to its widespread. As exemplified by New Zealand legislation the Domestic Violence Act 1995 considers IPV to constitute a category of family violence. According to the Act, IPV involves an individual committing violence against another person with whom that individual is or has been in a domestic relationship. Those people that are at increased risk of developing mental and physical health problems including depression, chronic pain, gastrointestinal disorders, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance-related disorders. The therapists are therefore more likely to meet women who have been victim of IPV. In this essay I’ll be highlighting on the prevalence of physical and mental health issues for women with an experience of IPV. The women’s who are affected by IPV are mainly due to remaining in an abusive relationship, culture and childhood sexual abuse are also seen as a risk factor of IPV. I will be portraying this issue from Marxists perspective and also using Marxist Feminists theories to relate to this issue to create a better understanding.