Report links murder to domestic violence - Sky News Australia

Updated: 22:15, Tuesday November 20, 2012

Domestic violence is involved in nearly half of all murders in Queensland, the state coroner's report says.

The annual report also shows 14 per cent of pending matters before coroners are more than two years old - a slight increase compared to the previous year.

The backlog is largely due to coroners waiting for police or other expert investigations, or the outcome of criminal proceedings.

In his foreword, State Coroner Michael Barnes says the workload has increased and acknowledges 'an undesirable increase in the number of matters taking longer to complete'.

'Coroners are aware delays in finalising coronial matters can cause distress for family members, and strive to conclude matters expeditiously,' he said.

The report found domestic violence was involved in nearly 50 per cent of all homicides committed in Queensland over the past five years.

Mr Barnes said this 'social scourge' was analysed by a trial team of three experts based in his office.

The team also played a major role in the inquest of a Gold Coast triple murder suicide where a man killed his ex-partner and her lover before gassing himself and his five-year-old daughter.

Mr Barnes said despite the invaluable work of the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Unit, the trial's funding was being reviewed.