Since the Femicide Census data collection started in 2009, the killing of women has continued at a substantial rate each year. This report reveals that, in 2017,
• 46% of women were killed by their current or former partner; for women killed by men other than by terrorism, the percentage killed by their current or ex-partner would rise to 54%
• 21% of women were killed by a stranger, including 21 women killed in terror attacks
• 17% of women were killed by a man known to them such as a social or business acquaintance, friend or neighbour
• 7% of women were killed by their sons and 5% were killed by another male family member (brother, father, uncle, grandson or nephew)
• 55% of women killed by their ex-partner or ex-spouse were killed within the first month of separation and 87% in the first year.
It is also very disturbing that overkilling was evident in 42% of cases – overkill is where the violence used in the killing is far greater than would be necessary to kill. Cases include women being repeatedly bludgeoned with an axe or other object (40 times in one case) or stabbed multiple (up to 175) times. Indeed men used sharp instruments in 47% of cases. There was also evidence of mutilation and desecration of bodies after killing in some cases.
The full report is available here