Jealousy among key triggers in intimate-partner killings, police say

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 144 of the 165 murder cases involving intimate partners recorded nationwide from 2017 to June this year were spontaneous, with no evidence of prior planning, police said.

The Serious Crime Investigation Division (D9) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Bukit Aman, said only 21 cases, or 12.7 per cent, involved elements of prior planning.

"The majority of murder cases involving intimate partners occurred spontaneously without prior planning. The incidents were usually triggered by escalating conflicts, such as disagreements, jealousy or arguments.

"These conflicts eventually led to the commission of murder," it said in response to questions from Berita Harian.

During the period, D9 recorded 165 intimate-partner murder cases, accounting for 6.2 per cent of the 2,644 murder cases recorded nationwide.

Of the 165 cases, 99 involved married couples, eight involved former husbands killing their former wives, and 58 involved dating couples.

Domestic disputes accounted for the highest number of identified motives, with 51 cases, followed by jealousy involving a third party with 45 cases and other disagreements with 34 cases.

Other motives included financial problems with 12 cases, drug influence with eight, alcohol intoxication with six, and jealousy stemming from an inability to accept a separation with four cases.

Two cases were linked to pregnancy and one to neglect.

An analysis of intimate-partner murder cases during the period found emotional factors, particularly jealousy involving a third party and an inability to accept a separation, among the main triggers identified by investigators.

Meanwhile, D9 said only 16 of the 165 cases involved victims who had previously lodged police reports against the suspects.

Of the 16 reports, nine involved married couples, one involved a former husband killing his former wife, and six involved dating couples.

Ten of the reports concerned disputes, while three each involved threats and causing injury.

"This shows that most victims had never lodged a police report before the incident," it said.

Of the 21 cases involving prior planning, six involved husbands killing their wives, two involved wives killing their husbands and four involved former husbands killing their former wives.

Eight involved boyfriends killing their girlfriends, while one involved a girlfriend killing her boyfriend.

Of the 144 cases without prior planning, 76 involved husbands killing their wives, 15 involved wives killing their husbands and four involved former husbands killing their former wives.

Another 42 involved boyfriends killing their girlfriends and seven involved girlfriends killing their boyfriends.

D9 said the number of intimate-partner murder cases from 2017 to June this year did not show a worrying trend or significant increase.

"However, the CID will continue to monitor the trend of this crime and strengthen prevention and enforcement efforts to ensure intimate-partner violence can be curbed more effectively," it said.

D9 said 138 cases, or 83.6 per cent of the 165 cases, had been brought before the courts.