This was such the case for Christine Thomas when her husband killed her ‘during a dream’.
The couple had been together for 40 years and enjoyed a happy marriage. In July 2008 the couple decided to take a holiday in their motor home to Aberporth, Wales.
During the night Brian Thomas dreamt that intruders had broken in to their motor home and he was fighting them to get out. Earlier in the night a group of young individuals had come in to the car park screeching their breaks and tyres. Mr and Mrs Thomas moved their motor home to the lower car park in order to have some peace and quiet but during the night Mr Thomas experienced dreams that he was being attacked and as a result he killed his wife.
Mr Thomas accepts that he has killed his wife but pleads that he has a sleep disorder.
Evidence has been commissioned from sleep experts whom confirmed that he was suffering with a sleep disorder and his actions were therefore ‘involuntary’. The prosecution have agreed that the act was involuntary and therefore that Mr Thomas cannot be held liable for his wife’s murder.
The jury will be expected to find Mr Thomas either not guilty or a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The case has been adjourned.
Sleep disorders are very common; however, the chances of them becoming so serious that they lead to circumstances such as that reported are very rare.
Most sleep disorders can be treated by way of relaxation techniques and sleep clinics so if you or family members are suffering with sleep disturbances make an appointment to see your GP for some further advice.