Murders can be divided into different categories depending on the motives, the circumstances of the crime, and other factors. One way to do this is to explore the relationship between perpetrator and victim. In such a case, homicides can be divided into primary and non-primary. The first group includes crimes committed against persons previously known to the offender.
These may be relatives, friends, or acquaintances, and personal interaction is the reason for committing a crime in this context. Due to the presence of any conflict, a person commits a crime that has an expressive character. The second type of homicide is committed in the absence of any personal connection between the perpetrator and the victim. In this case, the crime is instrumental and includes the factor of premeditation of committing an atrocity. Often, non-primary homicides are committed as part of other crimes, such as robbery.