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83. Sleepkiller 1: Can you murder someone while dreaming?

Kenneth James Parks, a Canadian man, claims he awakens with bloodied hands. Is it really possible that he didn’t know what he was doing? Can parasomnias cause violence?

On the 22nd of May 1987 Kenneth Parks got into his car and drove 27 km up a three-lane highway to his beloved parents-in-law's home. He claims he was asleep through his horrific actions until he woke up with blood dripping from his hands.

In this episode of Bad People, Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen look into the science of sleepwalking, sleep terrors, and related parasomnias. What is REM sleep? What are we capable of while asleep? What kind of sleep disruptions are normal? And is there a link between β€œdisorders of arousal” and violence?

CREDITS
Presenters: Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen
Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter
Editor: Anna Lacey
Music: Matt Chandler

Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins
Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland

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33 minutes

Podcast