In England and Wales 5-10 per cent of homicides are followed by the suicide of the assailant. Fifty-two episodes of homicide-suicide occurring in Yorkshire and Humberside have been studied. Forty-nine of the assailants were male with a mean age of 49 years. There were 65 victims, who were usually the spouse and/or children of the killer. Shooting was the most frequent method of killing and subsequent suicide. The results are compared with other homicide statistics and previously published studies of homicide-suicide.