A man who fatally strangled his wife during a nightmare about an intruder has walked free from court on Friday after he was acquitted of her murder.
Brian Thomas, 59, was released from Swansea Crown Court after the prosecution withdrew the case against him.
Thomas admitted killing his wife Christine, 57, while they spent a night on a car park in west Wales in July 2008, but blamed his rare sleep disorder for the attack.
The judge described Thomas as a "decent man and devoted husband" who legally bore no responsibility for killing his wife -- to whom he had been married to for 40 years.
Relatives celebrated the acquittal as Thomas left the courthouse .
"Family and friends are truly delighted by the outcome today. They were a loving couple and always like that together ," said Raymond Thomas -- Brian's brother.
Sleep experts had earlier told the court that Thomas' sleep disorder left him unable to control his actions -- a term described as "automatism."
The jury was told there are two types of automatism -- insane automatism and non-insane automatism -- and they could reach only two verdicts: not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity.
The case was dismissed after the prosecution said it was no longer seeking a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity and there would be no purpose in sending Thomas to a psychiatric hospital.
"Any case involving the death of an individual caused by another always has been and always will be investigated and examined with the utmost vigour by Dyfed-Powys Police. The tragic death of Christine Thomas was no exception," said Detective Chief Inspector Richard Evans.
"The decision to charge Thomas with murder was taken after very careful consideration of the evidence available at the time, and included seeking the advice of the Crime Prosecution Service, and Queen?s Counsel," he added.
The jury heard that Thomas' sleep disorder left him unable to control his actions, a term described as "automatism."
Copyright 2009 AFP European Edition
