In the previous four years, there were more than 20 domestic violence deaths each year.

"We hope these numbers will continue to drop, and that's why we keep working to increase public awareness and promote zero tolerance of domestic violence," said Jerry Blackburn, chairman of the Utah Domestic Violence Council, which tallied the year's domestic violence deaths in a summary released Wednesday.

There were five cohabitant homicides in 2007, down two-thirds from 2006 when 15 were murdered by members of their own households.

Half of the victims in 2007 were women, and half were men. Six of the nine women were thought to have been killed by their boyfriends or husbands. Five of the nine men killed themselves after abusing or killing their girlfriends or wives.

Children were present at two of the deaths, the report states. In one case, Monika Ann Dilmaghanian's three children - 8, 9 and 12 -watched as she stabbed her boyfriend, Nathan Harris, in April near Causey Reservoir.

Mark Erickson, accused of fatally shooting Timothy McEnaney in a Beaver restaurant, allegedly left his daughter and stepdaughter in his pickup as he confronted his ex-wife, who was dining with McEnaney.

In contrast, the report says 16 children were present at seven of Utah's domestic violence deaths in 2006.

ealberty@sltrib.com