Christensen Martin R, Thomsen Asser H, Høyer Christian B, Gregersen Markil, Banner Jytte
Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V's Vej 11, 2100, Copenhagen E, Denmark.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensen Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2016 Mar;12(1):40-9. doi: 10.1007/s12024-015-9729-x. Epub 2015 Nov 24.
Homicide in Greenland has not often been investigated. The latest published study documented a dramatic rise in the homicide rate from around 1/100,000 inhabitants to more than 23/100,000 inhabitants from 1946 to 1984. The aim of our study was to characterize homicides in Greenland from 1985 to 2010 and to compare trends during this period with those in previous studies and with homicide characteristics in Denmark, northern Europe, and other Arctic regions.
We identified a total of 281 homicides by legal definition and 194 by medical definition, the latter from the years 1990 to 2010. We procured case files for a total of 129 victims (71 male, 58 female) and 117 perpetrators (85 male, 32 female).
We identified an overall decrease in the homicide rate during our study period. The decrease in the medical homicide rate was significant (p = 0.007). The homicide rate ranged from 25/100,000 inhabitants to 13/100,000 inhabitants when results were grouped within 5-year periods. There were significantly more male perpetrators (p < 0.001) and among female perpetrators there were significantly more male victims (p < 0.001). Sharp force and gunshot-related killings dominated homicide methods (41 and 29% respectively), with sharp force deaths increasing throughout the investigation period. Altercations were the main motive (49%). Alcohol-related homicides decreased in our study period.
While the Greenlandic homicide rate has decreased, it is markedly higher compared to that seen in Denmark and northern Europe. However, it resembles the rate seen in the rest of the Arctic. Liberal gun laws do not affect the proportion of gun-related killings. Despite the high homicide rate, women account for almost half the victims.
格陵兰岛的杀人案件此前较少受到调查。最新发表的一项研究记录了1946年至1984年间杀人率从约十万分之一急剧上升至超过十万分之二十三。我们研究的目的是描述1985年至2010年格陵兰岛的杀人案件情况，并将这一时期的趋势与之前研究中的趋势以及丹麦、北欧和其他北极地区的杀人案件特征进行比较。
根据法律定义，我们共识别出281起杀人案件，根据医学定义识别出194起，后者来自1990年至2010年。我们获取了总共129名受害者（71名男性，58名女性）和117名犯罪者（85名男性，32名女性）的案件档案。
我们发现在研究期间杀人率总体下降。医学定义的杀人率下降显著（p = 0.007）。按5年时间段分组时，杀人率从十万分之二十五降至十万分之十三。男性犯罪者显著更多（p < 0.001），在女性犯罪者中，男性受害者显著更多（p < 0.001）。利器和枪击相关杀人案是主要杀人方式（分别占41%和29%），在整个调查期间利器致死案件有所增加。争吵是主要动机（49%）。在我们的研究期间，与酒精相关的杀人案有所减少。
虽然格陵兰岛的杀人率有所下降，但与丹麦和北欧相比仍显著更高。然而，它与其他北极地区的杀人率相似。宽松的枪支法律并不影响与枪支相关杀人案的比例。尽管杀人率很高，但女性受害者几乎占了一半。
