Man Who Strangled Wife During Dream Is Freed

Sky News ^ | Nov 20th 2009 | LUlu Sinclair

[Cardhu]

A man who strangled his wife during a nightmare in which he dreamed he was attacking an intruder has been freed.

Brian Thomas, 59, was released after the prosecution withdrew the case against him at Swansea Crown Court.

It had been seeking a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity but said later there would be no purpose in sending Mr Thomas to a psychiatric hospital.

Family members who were in court for the hearing, greeted the news with a jubilant cry of "yes".

Mr Thomas' brother Raymond spoke of his relief as he left court.

"Family and friends are truly delighted by the outcome today. They were a loving couple and always like that together.

"He has always been a loving husband and a family man.

[Flathead Catfisherman]

That story reminded me back when my wife and I started living together years ago. I had a dream I was in a fight or something and I ended up kicking her several times before she was able to wake me up.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

I agree with all you have said. An individual I know that is diabetic would drop very low and they would kick,scream, hit, go nuts and not remember a thing afterwards.

[Steve Van Doorn]

i had no idea sleep walkers were so dangerous.

[steveo]

About seven years ago in the summer months I woke to see a figure in my hallway entering my room. I flew out of bed to protect my wife who was sleeping beside me. Yelling and shouting, screaming at the top of my lungs so loud my neighbors heard me

My fists were flying, attacking my wife who got up to check on the cat.

Thank God I only scared her, I was only trying to protect her.

[mnehring]

I have a very hard time buying into these sleeping defenses.

I know there have been times where I went a couple of days without sleeping, and when I finally crashed my wife said I was so out of it, I actually got up, opened the refrigerator door, moved a chair and went back to bed, all while asleep. However, strangling someone is a whole other ball game. I know my wife (Ms. Krav Maga expert) would make sure I woke up in about a half a second with a quick punch to the you know whats...

[mnehring]

Something else.. sleep deprivation can cause people to really flip out. Something that happened a few years ago here in town:

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=50237

I know this case isn’t directly sleep deprivation, but it does stress the importance of it to our mental state.

[Cardhu]

Apparently there was no history of abuse - everyone said they were a very loving couple. On the night of the incident there had been some disturbance by young people around the vehicle so he may have dreamt that they had entered the RV and he was defending himself

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I once dreamed that there was an armidillo in the bed, I grabbed it and dumped it on the floor. My wife always went to bed with a bunch of hair curlers installed, it wasn’t my fault!

[goat granny]

I had a girl friend who's husband had to move out of the bedroom because of her violence...When our hubbys pasted on (they were best buds) her and I use to vacation together...One time when we were at Disney World, she fell asleep before me, I was watching TV in the other bed...

She started to kick violently and punch at someone during sleep. I kept my eye on her to make sure she stayed in bed.

Then she settled back down and started laughing...didn't remember a thing in the morning...but told me once she threw herself out of bed and hit her head on the bedside table...She was a sweet little gal that wouldn't hurt a fly...but a bitch when sleeping...(she has since passed on and I still miss her)

don't know weather to put up a smiley face or a sad one.......