Can a Sleep Disorder Help You Get Away With Murder?

[LancesMom]

Can a Sleep Disorder Help You Get Away With Murder?

You're probably aware of sleepwalking, sleep-eating, and even sleep sex ... but have you heard of sleep murder? That's the phenomenon behind the case of a man in Wales who killed his wife of 40 years, allegedly while asleep and dreaming that she was an intruder.

Portrayed by the defense as a "devoted husband," Brian Thomas, 57, was freed by a judge who said he bore no responsibility. The couple was on vacation in a camper park when their sleep was interrupted by younger vacationers who were racing vehicles in the lot.

Thomas claimed that, even after relocating their camper, he dreamed that he was fighting one of the men from the lot, and woke up to realize it was actually his wife.

His daughters testified that they've seen their father sleepwalk and act strangely in the past. Yet, somehow, a psychiatrist for the prosecution said he was not a threat and should be released.

If this sets a precedent that one can not be held accountable for their actions while asleep, we may start having dreams that we're super-rich and rob a few banks at 3 in the morning.

I do not have a sleep disorder, so I have to ask: Should a person be held responsible for his or her actions while asleep?

[wife.and.mommy]

no, as long as the person takes their meds regularly

[623Mexicana]

i don't know where people come up with these type of defenses.. i sleepwalk.. have since i was a child, and continue to.. sometimes my episodes are bad, but my husband is still alive... how are they proving the person who commited the murder was truely sleeping? this is almost as bad as the Twinkie Defense...

[IhartU]

All three of my children sleepwalk, and I have seen them do many strange things- including be violent. It all depends on what they are dreaming about when they were/are walking around.

I have read about this and it's called SOMNAMBULISTIC HOMICIDE. Seeing what happens with my own children, I can totally believe killing someone while you're sleep walking is possible.

[mitch576]

yes, i think it's a valid excuse. you are not conscious at all.

 i sleep walk.. my family doesn't come near me when i am sleeping because i can become violent. it's an awful feeling waking up knowing you have done something you shouldn't have.

i can't imagine his sorrow, regret, heartache.   40 years of marriage... you don't just up and kill your wife.

 i know what it is like to wake up in the middle of doing something..even if it's just being in the bathroom. it's terribly disorientating. imagine waking up from a nightmare where you were defending yourself from a stranger... to see that you have actually hurt a loved one?

i can't imagine how he feels.