During 1991, almost 2000 deaths were homicides be ween intimate partners Mechanic, 2000). Slightly over wo thirds were females killed by their male partners, and the other 30% were men kiled by female partners ( Mechanic, 2000). Although men's overall homicide risk is three time that for women, women face a greater risk of homicide by their spousds than do men (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1991); intrafamily violence accouted for 15% of all family homicides in 1989; 44% involved husbands and wives. Consider the following case example:
The Boston police received an emergency call that an un known assailant hsd shot a pregnant woman and her husband while driving home a childbirth class. police located the couple and rushed them to a local hospital. Surgeons were unable to save the young woman. Her baby was born by caesarian section but died 10 days later. Following a lengthy investigation, the police identified their prime suspect as the husband. Before his arrest, the husband jumped off a bridge and drowned. The husband's brother was arrested and charged with aiding in a felony; he had disposed of two bags containing jewelry and the murder weapon. police divers located the evidence.
This case