KATY, TX – A Texas jury delivered a guilty verdict on Monday for a 21-year-old man charged with murder, dismissing his defense that he was sleepwalking when he fatally stabbed his twin sister. The man, Benjamin Elliott, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a judge on Tuesday for the 2021 killing of his sister, Meghan Elliott, who was attacked with a survival knife as she slept in their home.

The defendant claimed during the trial that he was dreaming when he stabbed his sister and only realized the severity of his actions upon waking up. In a frantic attempt to aid her, Elliott said he tried to stop the bleeding with a pillow before calling 911.

Despite the defense’s assertion of unconscious behavior, the jury reached a decision in approximately five hours, convicting Elliott of murder. His attorney argued in closing statements that Elliott had no motive to harm his sister, suggesting his affection and protective nature toward her were evident.

Prosecutors, however, dismissed the sleepwalking defense, presenting evidence indicating Elliott had been on his phone 20 minutes before the incident, implying he was awake. They noted that he managed to call emergency services quickly and alleged that he deliberately used the pillow to stifle her cries.

Prosecutor Megan Long emphasized the element of premeditation, pointing out that Elliott used the same knife obtained the night before the incident to kill his sister. Although no clear motive was presented, Long argued that the actions showed forethought.

The Elliott family stood firmly by Benjamin, maintaining their belief in his sleepwalking claim, citing a history of such behavior. His older sister recounted a prior incident in which Benjamin appeared to be sleepwalking, appearing in a doorway with eyes barely open before being directed back to bed.

Defense counsel questioned whether the sleepwalking defense was a creative fabrication, firmly stating it was not. Expert witnesses for the defense, including neurologist Dr. Jerald Simmons, supported the possibility of such incidents occurring during sleep, though they recognized their rarity.

The sleepwalking defense has seen occasional success in other cases, such as a North Carolina man who was acquitted of first-degree murder charges after claiming he was sleepwalking when he smothered his son and attacked two other children in 2010. Like Elliott’s case, experts in that trial cited stress and sleep deprivation as potential contributing factors.

Ultimately, the jury was unconvinced by Elliott’s defense, opting instead to convict him of the brutal crime despite his family’s unwavering support and expert testimony suggesting another story.