Texas – A Texas man was ordered to serve fifteen years in prison after he was found guilty of murder in connection with the death of his family member. The sentencing followed a guilty verdict from a jury that convicted the defendant, later identified as 21-year-old Benjamln, after a trial that examined the tragic events surrounding the stabbing. The verdict came despite the defense’s claim that the defendant was sleepwalking during the fatal incident, a defense that was ultimately rejected by the jury.
The fatal incident occurred on in Sept. 2021, when both siblings were 17 years old. The defendant, who initially called 911, reported that he had stabbed his sister in the neck. He claimed that he had been asleep and believed he was dreaming when he committed the act. Upon realizing what he had done, he immediately attempted CPR on his sister until emergency responders arrived. Despite his efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the trial, the defense put forth expert testimony from a neurologist who specialized in sleep disorders. The expert suggested that the defendant could have been sleepwalking, citing a combination of sleep deprivation and stress from his personal life. This, the defense argued, may have triggered an unconscious act of violence…