Ultimately, none of these cases provide formal evidence of etiology (causality). That is, even if a defense team provides ample evidence of a killer`s sleepwalking tendencies, it is almost always impossible to prove that this was the cause of the murder. At the same time, it cannot be refuted; In the criminal justice system, reasonable doubts often lead to acquittals. Limited medical knowledge about the causes of sleepwalking has given it several associations – such as an act of unconsciousness, automatism and madness – and has prevented us from understanding which explanation is more accurate. Few medical experts were consulted, with the exception of one doctor who testified that sleepwalking was a true “phenomenon” and that evidence that the shooter had a history of sleepwalking throughout his life was minimal. According to the records, his defense team presented “evidence showing that he was a man of good character” and that he had been “in a state of unconsciousness between sleep and wakefulness” during the crime. On the basis of the principle that there can be no crime if there is no criminal intent, the charges of the accused were quashed and he was acquitted. Kiger was later charged with first-degree murder, but acquitted of mental illness after using sleepwalking as a defense. Under oath, Ziger claimed to have been hypnotic during the ordeal, and psychological experts testified to his delusions and vivid nightmares. She was declared mentally ill and then spent a year in an institution. In 1925, Isom Bradley got up late into the night at his home in Texas, apparently due to a lucid dream that an intruder was present, and fired several shots; When he woke up, he realized that he had shot his girlfriend. With a similar and medically vague sleepwalking defense, Bradley was exonerated by the court, which set the following precedent: “While it is perfectly acceptable for society for someone to hurt themselves in their sleep,” he said, “when it comes to harming others, very often people can`t believe that the act could take place without the person knowing.
They find it hard to believe that a person can sleep through such acts of violence. However, various tests have revealed no history of psychiatric disorders or alcohol or drug abuse. During the day, the man had a stable and pleasant married and family life with four children. But when the Minnesota Sleep Center hooked it up for polysomnography, which involves recording brain waves and muscle actions, all sorts of violent incidents were happening. He quickly sat up, looked around in confusion, spoke, punched and tried to get out of bed as his brain record showed he was still sleeping. More recently, he had been effectively treated for more than five years with doses of a Valium-like drug, clonazepam. But in the multitude of sleepwalking incidents, a handful of them would have led to the most serious outcome: murder. It seems impossible – one person unknowingly kills another person and has no knowledge of his actions the next morning – but according to right-back teams, this is not just a possibility, but a reality.
With 40+ years of experience, Wallin & Klarich is your best choice among Southern California criminal defense firms. Our lawyers have helped thousands of clients, and we have the skills and resources to ensure a successful outcome for you. Our experienced lawyers will assess the particular circumstances of your case to see if you qualify for a defence so that we can reduce your sentences or even dismiss your case altogether. If you have been charged with a crime, contact our lawyers as soon as possible to find out how we can help you. Courts have different approaches to which side bears the burden of proof. Some courts place the burden of proof on the prosecution and require it to prove that the accused`s criminal act was intentional. Other courts require the defendant to invoke the sleepwalking defence as a positive defence. In these courts, the defendant must then prove that he is a chronic sleepwalker. Experts have proposed a balancing test to determine the credibility of the sleepwalking defense. These factors include: The generalized case of Scott Falater in 1997 ended in the same way. It was a dark story. The Motorola engineer sliced his wife 44 times with a hunting knife, pushed her into the backyard and held her head under the pool water until the water turned a red sea.
His neighbor, who witnessed the crime, dismantled Falater`s sleepwalking defense in court, saying he had shown signs of clarity (i.e. yelling at his dog to sit, putting bandages on his hands).