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| Man 'killed wife during a dream' | Man 'killed wife during a dream' |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| The trial of a husband accused of murdering his wife as they slept in a camper van has heard he killed her because he dreamt she was an intruder. | The trial of a husband accused of murdering his wife as they slept in a camper van has heard he killed her because he dreamt she was an intruder. |
| The body of Christine Thomas, 57, was found in a camper van in a car park in Aberporth, Ceredigion, in July 2008. | The body of Christine Thomas, 57, was found in a camper van in a car park in Aberporth, Ceredigion, in July 2008. |
| Swansea Crown Court heard that her husband Brian Thomas, 59, suffered from a sleep disorder. | |
| The prosecution says it is seeking a verdict of "not guilty by reason of insanity" against Mr Thomas, of Neath. | The prosecution says it is seeking a verdict of "not guilty by reason of insanity" against Mr Thomas, of Neath. |
| Prosecuting barrister Paul Thomas QC, in his opening words to the jury on Tuesday morning, described the case as "highly unusual". | Prosecuting barrister Paul Thomas QC, in his opening words to the jury on Tuesday morning, described the case as "highly unusual". |
| He described how Mr Thomas killed his wife, his childhood sweetheart, because he had dreamt she was a man who had broken into their motor home. | He described how Mr Thomas killed his wife, his childhood sweetheart, because he had dreamt she was a man who had broken into their motor home. |
| The court was told Mr Thomas's disorder meant he was not in control of his actions when he strangled his partner of 40 years. | The court was told Mr Thomas's disorder meant he was not in control of his actions when he strangled his partner of 40 years. |
| After commissioning evidence from sleep experts, the prosecution agreed his actions were involuntary and he could not be held responsible. | After commissioning evidence from sleep experts, the prosecution agreed his actions were involuntary and he could not be held responsible. |
| The prosecution has told the jury it will have a choice between the "not guilty by reason of insanity" verdict it would argue for, or the straightforward "not guilty" verdict the defence would seek. | The prosecution has told the jury it will have a choice between the "not guilty by reason of insanity" verdict it would argue for, or the straightforward "not guilty" verdict the defence would seek. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |