The article discusses the case of Benjamin Elliott, a 21-year-old man who was convicted of murdering his twin sister Meghan in their family home. The case drew national attention due to its unusual circumstances and the fact that it was the first murder trial involving sleepwalking.
According to the article, Benjamin testified that he had no memory of the night of the murder and that he had been asleep when he woke up to find his sister dead. He claimed that he had used a pillow to try to stop the bleeding after discovering his sister's body.
However, prosecutors argued that Benjamin had deliberately committed the crime, citing inconsistencies in his testimony and evidence suggesting that he had been in a state of heightened arousal at the time of the murder.
The article notes that several jurors who were involved in the trial reported that they were deeply conflicted about Benjamin's guilt or innocence, with some expressing doubts about his account of events. The jury ultimately delivered a guilty verdict, but the sentencing phase was delayed due to concerns from one juror.
In an interview with "48 Hours," Benjamin expressed shock and sadness at the outcome of the trial, claiming that he had been framed for the crime. He stated that he had no memory of the night of the murder and that he had been asleep when he woke up to find his sister dead.
The article also explores the science of sleepwalking and how it can sometimes be mistaken for a deliberate act. It notes that Benjamin's family members reported that he was prone to sleepwalking, but there is no evidence to suggest that he had done so in the past before the murder.
In a post-mortem podcast discussion, correspondent Erin Moriarty discusses the case with Anne-Marie Green and explores some of the complexities surrounding Benjamin's guilt or innocence. The podcast also delves into the science behind sleepwalking and how it can sometimes be misinterpreted as a deliberate act.
Overall, the article presents a nuanced exploration of the Benjamin Elliott case, highlighting the complexities and challenges involved in determining guilt or innocence in cases involving sleepwalking.
According to the article, Benjamin testified that he had no memory of the night of the murder and that he had been asleep when he woke up to find his sister dead. He claimed that he had used a pillow to try to stop the bleeding after discovering his sister's body.
However, prosecutors argued that Benjamin had deliberately committed the crime, citing inconsistencies in his testimony and evidence suggesting that he had been in a state of heightened arousal at the time of the murder.
The article notes that several jurors who were involved in the trial reported that they were deeply conflicted about Benjamin's guilt or innocence, with some expressing doubts about his account of events. The jury ultimately delivered a guilty verdict, but the sentencing phase was delayed due to concerns from one juror.
In an interview with "48 Hours," Benjamin expressed shock and sadness at the outcome of the trial, claiming that he had been framed for the crime. He stated that he had no memory of the night of the murder and that he had been asleep when he woke up to find his sister dead.
The article also explores the science of sleepwalking and how it can sometimes be mistaken for a deliberate act. It notes that Benjamin's family members reported that he was prone to sleepwalking, but there is no evidence to suggest that he had done so in the past before the murder.
In a post-mortem podcast discussion, correspondent Erin Moriarty discusses the case with Anne-Marie Green and explores some of the complexities surrounding Benjamin's guilt or innocence. The podcast also delves into the science behind sleepwalking and how it can sometimes be misinterpreted as a deliberate act.
Overall, the article presents a nuanced exploration of the Benjamin Elliott case, highlighting the complexities and challenges involved in determining guilt or innocence in cases involving sleepwalking.
...can't believe he was convicted for something that wasn't even a choice, tbh? I mean, have you guys seen those vids of sleepwalkers doing crazy stuff? It's wild! I don't know what to think about the whole situation - did Ben really do it or not? The jury clearly had doubts, but they still went with the guilty verdict. What if one juror's concerns were enough to change everything? 
I mean, the science behind sleepwalking is wild - it can be super hard to distinguish between actual sleep and sleepwalking. And now Benjamin's saying he has no memory of the murder and that he woke up to find his sister dead... it's all so confusing 
. The verdict was guilty but it feels like it's not entirely clear cut, you know? It's like we're still trying to figure out what actually happened in that house that night 
.
And most people who sleepwalk don't do anything bad, like they just go for a walk or something. 
But then there are cases like this one where it can be super hard to tell what's real and what's not. 
The prosecution argued that Benjamin was in a state of heightened arousal at the time of the murder which is true but also sleepwalking can cause you to be more alert than normal... 
Wouldn't that be interesting?
I mean, wouldn't they have said something if it was a problem before? It just feels like the prosecution is trying to fit him into some narrative and not giving enough credence to his story. 
The whole sleepwalking thing just doesn't sit right with me. Like, if you're a light sleeper like Ben's family said he is, wouldn't you have woken up way earlier than 3 am? 
It's like, can we even trust our own memories when we're sleepwalking? Like, is it really possible to know what we did in that state? 
benjamin's family members saying he was always sleepwalking & stuff but there was this one night where it was murder lol how do we even know what's real & what's not? 
but what if benjamin wasn't awake during the murder? does that even change anything?