Posted:
After a review of police files, HRM Partners in Policing are adjusting the total number of homicides in HRM for 2013.
In late 2013, police released crime statistics that indicated there were eight homicides in HRM in 2013. The total included two charges of criminal negligence causing death related to two separate motor vehicle collisions. An internal review determined that the charge of criminal negligence causing death does not meet the criteria set out by Statistics Canada for reporting homicides.
Statistics Canada defines a homicide as “when a person directly or indirectly, by any means, causes the death of a human being. Homicide is either culpable (murder, manslaughter or infanticide) or non-culpable (not an offence and, therefore, not included in the Homicide Survey). Deaths caused by criminal negligence, suicide and accidental or justifiable homicide (e.g. self-defence) are not included. Homicide includes first and second degree murder, manslaughter and infanticide”. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2013001/definitions-eng.htm#h1
Therefore, the adjusted number of homicides in HRM for 2013 should be six, four of which have been solved and two remain unsolved.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.