Posted on 03/02/2024 7:36:32 PM PST by DoodleBob
…Kenneth Parks was found not guilty of murder and attempted murder. His defence was sleepwalking, or non-insane automatism as part of a presumed episode of somnambulism. Kenneth returned to normal life and went on to have six children….Did Kenneth Parks use the sleepwalking defence to get away with the perfect murder? If you murder someone while sleepwalking, are you guilty or not guilty? If your eyes are open but your brain is still asleep, did you intend to commit a crime or not?
…
One in three adults have symptoms of insomnia, and around 22% of us sleepwalk, frequently walking with our eyes open.
Most of us won’t remember doing so after being woken by someone else, and may also be confused, and even aggressive. Sleepwalkers who commit crimes may cite a family history of the behaviour disorder…sleepwalking may run in the family.
Scott Falater, an engineer from Phoenix, Arizona, claimed just that, following the death of his wife of 20 years. In 1997 Falater stabbed her 44 times, hid the knife and her bloodied clothes in the back of his Volvo and then held her head underwater in their swimming pool. His defence claimed that he had been sleepwalking at the time, pointing out also his family history of sleepwalking. Unluckily for Falater, a neighbour testified that he had seen the accused motion for his dog to lie down during the night in question. The jury took this as evidence of consciousness and intent and Falater was found guilty of first-degree murder.
A guilty verdict is not always that clear-cut, however. “There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to how sleepwalking is treated in criminal law,” says criminal barrister Ramya Nagesh, author of A Practical Guide to Insane and Non-Insane Automatism in Criminal Law. “
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
There have been sleepwalking defenses in the past. I remember one case where a husband killed his wife and claimed he was sleepwalking, but they proved he wasn’t.
This is utter BS. No way this is that common. No way.
I lived in a fraternity. No brother ever sleepwalked in the years I lived in our house.
One brother wet his bed.
A few had drinking problems.
A couple may have been clinically crazy.
But no sleepwalkers.
Is this about Hunter? What did he do? Has the FBI destroyed the evidence yet?
If you kill someone in your sleep, are you a murderer? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No, you have to be proven to have the intent to kill....mens rea.
But proving sleep walking...........almost impossible.
Should probably force him to sleep in jail the rest of his life but let him out during the day
Taking drugs like Ambien i think it is or cymbalta- can’t remember now, will cause a person to do really strange things while sleep walking- like eating frozen food, eating dirt- going out of the house and back without realizing it- etc-
There was a case where i believe the man got off because of having taken the drug and not knowing what he did- supposedly-
That is indeed bull.
What a nightmare.
Most of the time I would end up in the backyard or garage.
Once I woke up standing on my bed, having strung my long bow with a arrow nocked…after that the bow went into my closet instead of being hung on the wall.
There have been a handful of FR threads over the years concerning sleeping aids and people doing things while “asleep” up to driving vehicles and doing violence.
I only slept walked once as far as I know. It was when I was younger, and I had a whole conversation with someone on the phone. Then I went back to bed and couldn’t remember a thing about it when I woke up. It’s a little disconcerting.
I sleep walked as a young child and once even walked outside. I was on the sidewalk in front of our house and suddenly woke up disorientated. I let out a scream and several neighbors came running out to see what it was. That was the last time it happened.
One in three adults have symptoms of insomnia, and around 22% of us sleepwalk, frequently walking with our eyes open.
No problem. We can put you back to sleep, and then execute you.
They should just use the Hunter defense: “I was high.”
Agreed. I’ve never in my entire life ever heard of anyone i even remotely knew sleep walking or met anyone who ever knew someone who did it. Bunch of bs.
I hate sleep murderers!
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