What conclusions can be drawn about homi cide offences and weapons-related offences in Canada Examine the following statistics related to homi cides in Canada in 1999, as reported by Statistics Canada in October 2000. Canada's homicide rate was its lowest since 1967. Canada's homicide rate was one-third less than the American rate, but higher than most European rates. Almost 90 percent of accused persons were male, as were two-thirds of homicide victims. About 8 percent of homicide incidents were murder-suicides. Thirty-one percent of homicides involved firearms. Handguns were used in 55 percent of all firearm homicides. The majority of firearms-related deaths were a result of suicide. Four out of five victims of spousal homicide were female. Fifty-one percent of female homicide victims were killed by someone with whom they had an intimate relationship, compared with 6 percent of male victims. Of the children under 12 who were killed, 80 percent were killed by a parent. Sixty-four percent of people accused of homi cide had a previous criminal record