HOMICIDAL SOMNAMBULISM - A CASE-REPORT

A case of a homicide and an attempted homicide during presumed sleepwa lking is reported in which somnambulism was the legal defense and led to an acquittal. Other possible explanations including complex partial seizures, dissociative state, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disor der and volitional waking behavior are discussed. The evidence support ing the probability that this act occurred during an episode of somnam bulism and sleep-related confusional arousal is reviewed and weighed. This evidence includes personal and family history of somnambulism and related disorders; neurological, psychiatric and psychological assess ments; presence of possible precipitating factors; and polysomnographi c data.