A Texas man on trial for murder claims he was sleepwalking when he fatally stabbed his twin sister.
Prosecutors alleged that Benjamin Elliott, then 17, intentionally attacked Meghan Elliott in her bed during the early morning hours of September 29, 2021. The incident occurred at the family’s home in Katy, investigators said.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said that the victim had multiple stab wounds. Meghan was pronounced dead at the scene, according to ABC 13.
Elliott reportedly told police that he was sleepwalking when he walked into his sister’s room between 2:30 a.m. to 3 a.m with a knife. He said he didn’t realize he was sleepwalking until he was in her room and noticed a knife wound on her neck.
In a recorded statement played for the jury during his trial, Elliott described waking from a dream to find himself standing over his sister. He said he removed the knife and called 911 to report that he had stabbed her.
Officers arrived at the family’s home in shortly after 4 a.m. and found Benjamin Elliott performing CPR on his sister. They located a knife at the scene, described as a “survival knife” that belonged to his father.
Elliott has remained free on $100,000 bond since the incident. His lawyer chose not to present an opening statement at the trial’s start. In court documents filed prior to the trial, his attorneys stated they might call a sleep expert, neurologist, psychiatrists, and a forensic science expert to testify.
Harris County Assistant District Attorney Maroun Koutani argued in his opening statement that cell phone evidence contradicted the defendant’s sleepwalking claim, according to KENS.
Elliott could face up to 99 years in prison if convicted of felony murder.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Benjamin Elliott/Harris County PD]
