The intersection of stalking and homicide

Stalking and homicide have long been linked in the public mind, reinforced by widespread media coverage of stranger homicides involving stalking. Stalking has also been linked to homicide in the family violence sector, where intimate partner violence researchers have suggested that the presence of stalking indicates increased risk of fatal violence. However, the evidence base for such claims is weak. In this talk, Prof. McEwan will discuss the intersection of stalking and homicide and the problems with existing research that limit what we can conclude about the relationship between the two. She will present findings from a recent review of over 800 Victorian homicides that identified the prevalence of prior stalking in this population. Features of stalking homicide cases will be contrasted with what we know about those who engage in stalking violence generally. The talk will conclude with some guidance about when the presence of stalking should provoke concern about the potential for lethal violence, when it clearly should not.

About the presenter

Troy is a Professor of Clinical and Forensic Psychology at the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology, and a senior psychologist at Forensicare. Her research and practice over the past two decades has focussed on understanding and assessing stalking, particularly on improving risk assessment and management approaches. Troy has lead Australian Research Council funded work into risk assessment and treatment of stalking and regularly provides training to police, mental health, judicial officers and others in Australia and internationally on working with people who stalk. In addition to authoring over 60 peer-reviewed publications on stalking, family violence, sexual offending and arson, Troy is co-author of two widely used guidelines for assessing risk in stalking cases and lead author of an upcoming book on treating and managing stalking behaviour, to be published by Wiley in 2023.

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