Editing Contract killing (section)

==Statistics==
Contract killings generally make up a small percentage of murders. For example, they accounted for about 6% of all murders in [[Crime in Scotland|Scotland]] from 1993 to 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/11/18570/29572|title=Homicide in Scotland, 2002|publisher=Government of Scotland}}</ref>

A study by the [[Australian Institute of Criminology]] of 162 contract murders and attempted contract murders in Australia between 1989 and 2002 indicated that the most common reason for murder-for-hire was [[life insurance|insurance policy]] payouts. The study also found that payments varied from $5,000 to $30,000 per killing, with an average of $15,000, and that the most commonly used weapons were [[firearms]]. Contract killings accounted for 2% of murders in Australia during that period.<ref name="lovers">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/02/05/australia.killings.offbeat.reut/index.html|title=Lovers top contract killing hit list |date=February 5, 2004|publisher=CNN}}</ref>