Drugs found in 38% of homicide victims

Some 38% of victims of homicide had illicit drugs or medication in their system at the time of death, a study has found.

A study of records from the State Pathologist’s Office found there were 288 homicides between 2008 and 2012, comprising murders and manslaughters.

The figures indicate an average of 57.6 homicides each year over the five-year period, with homicides accounting for 0.2% of all overall deaths.