Classification of Planning and Violent Behaviours in Serial Homicide: A Cross‐National Comparison Between South Africa and the US

Abstract

Recent literature suggests that different 'styles' of homicide will most appropriately be reflected in the different types of behaviours committed by offenders during the crime. In the last few years, there has been a move to standardise classification systems of single homicides and establish their cross-national generalisability. Literature on serial homicide to date has mostly centred on homicides occurring in the US. However, national differences due to factors such as culture, national identity, political, and socio-economic circumstances may decrease the applicability of these models or certain aspects thereof in other countries and thus must be evaluated. The present study tested the applicability in the South African context of a recently developed US-based serial homicide crime scene classification framework. Specifically, this study compared the thematic differentiation in planning and violent behaviours that the offenders engage in and how this differentiation compares with that in the US. The sample consisted of 25 homicides that were in total responsible for the murder of 267 victims. Results indicated that overall, the framework is useful and applicable in the South African sample, but important environmental and contextual constraints must be taken into account.

South African Serial Homicide: Consistency in Victim Types and Crime Scene Actions Across Series

“…the continued commission of homicides) is contingent upon their ability to choose the best strategy in planning each of their crimes that would enable them to not only complete the present homicide but also successfully evade capture (thus allowing them to commit subsequent crimes). Sorochinski and Salfati (2010) and Sorochinski et al . (2015) showed that each of these may be conceptualised as a distinct cognitive strategy, namely, pre‐offence planning—plans for steps to be taken prior to the crime (e.g.…”

“…The offender's goal of killing the victim may be achieved using different strategies, some of which may be more efficient than others. Sorochinski and Salfati (2010) and Sorochinski et al . (2015) showed that two distinct behavioural themes were evident, each of which reflects a different cognitive strategy.…”

“…The variables for this study were based on those used in Sorochinski et al . (2015) who used the same data as that in the current study and looked at the importance of planning (pre‐offence planning aimed at preparatory actions leading up to the commission of the crime and pre‐offence planning for actions after the commission of the crime) and violence (goal and process oriented) as key actions as a focus for linking.…”

“…In the US sample (Sorochinski & Salfati, 2010), it was found that indeed most offenders who change their planning strategy across the series do so from first to second offence, supporting the learning hypothesis. Sorochinski et al . (2015) conducted a classification study to determine if the behaviours of South African offenders could be similarly differentiated into two distinct planning strategies.…”

“…In addition, it was found that offenders were more likely to change from goal oriented to process oriented than the vice versa, possibly, confirming the loss of control hypothesis. Sorochinski et al . (2015) recently found that South African offenders' behaviours could similarly be classified into either of the two wounding strategies.…”