A Harris County jury has found 21-year-old Benjamin Elliott guilty of murder in the 2021 stabbing death of his twin sister, Meghan Elliott. The verdict was delivered on Monday after a week-long trial in which the defense claimed Elliott was sleepwalking when he committed the crime.
The tragic incident occurred on September 29, 2021, at the family’s home in Katy, Texas. Meghan, who was just 17 at the time, was fatally stabbed in the neck. Benjamin Elliott, who made the 911 call, initially told the operator that he believed he was dreaming when he attacked his sister, only to realize the horrifying reality upon waking. Deputies arrived to find him performing CPR on Meghan, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Throughout the trial, Elliott’s defense team argued that he suffered from parasomnia, a condition that can lead to abnormal behaviors during sleep. Attorney Wes Rucker passionately defended Elliott, asking the jury to consider how someone who deeply loved and protected his sister could commit such a violent act without an explanation rooted in a sleep disorder.
Expert witnesses on both sides presented conflicting testimony. Dr. Jerald Simmons, a neurologist testifying for the defense, asserted that sleepwalking could have led Elliott to kill his sister involuntarily. “It’s rare, but it does happen,” Simmons stated, expressing his belief that the jury had made the wrong decision.
However, prosecutors countered that the evidence pointed to a conscious and deliberate act. They highlighted data from Elliott’s phone, which recorded his movement before the attack, including walking to and from his sister’s room. They also noted that he was alert enough to disable his school alarm and make the 911 call. Prosecutor Megan Long emphasized that the knife used in the killing had been obtained the night before, suggesting premeditation.
After approximately five hours of deliberation, the jury rejected the sleepwalking defense and found Elliott guilty of murder. Now, Judge Danilo Lacayo will determine his sentence, which under Texas law ranges from five years to life in prison.
The use of a sleepwalking defense in criminal trials is uncommon but not unprecedented. In 2019, Raymond Lazarine attempted a similar defense in Harris County after killing his wife, but he too was convicted.
As Elliott awaits sentencing, the case serves as a chilling reminder of the complexities surrounding sleep disorders and criminal responsibility. The outcome leaves lingering questions about the boundaries of medical explanations in the courtroom and the tragic loss of a young life.
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