44 known SC victims of domestic violence honored

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A somber ceremony on the Statehouse steps has recognized the 44 known South Carolina victims killed last year by domestic violence.

Attorney General Alan Wilson called the names Tuesday of the 34 women and 10 men who died in 2010. The 14th annual Silent Witness Domestic Violence ceremony features a life-size silhouette that represented each victim. A 45th silhouette represents the potential unknown victims.

The event is held during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A bell rings once for each victim.

Last year’s ceremony recognized two men and 31 women killed by domestic violence in 2009.

According to the latest report by the Violence Policy Center in Washington, South Carolina ranks seventh nationwide in the rate of women killed by men. That’s up from ninth in last year’s report.