Final answer:
Scott Falater's use of sleepwalking as a defense in his murder trial highlights the complexities of consciousness and its legal implications. Though Falater was found guilty, the situation underscores the debate over sleep disorders and their possible linkage to violent behavior. Option d is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sleepwalking as a Legal Defense
The scenario involving Scott Falater, who claimed that he killed his wife while sleepwalking, presents a compelling instance where sleepwalking is used as a defense in a criminal trial. Sleepwalking, sometimes manifesting as night terror, is a sleep disorder that can lead individuals to perform complex actions, some of which may be violent, while not fully conscious. Although certain cases have seen the sleepwalking defense lead to an acquittal, in Falater's case, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder despite his claim of sleepwalking. The idea that homicidal sleepwalking is possible ties into deeper discussions surrounding the subconscious mind and its control over the body during different states of consciousness.
Discussing the Elizabeth Smart case, it's noted how careful preservation of an eyewitness' memory can be crucial in solving serious crimes such as kidnapping. This contrasts with the potential unreliability of memories and actions during unconscious states like sleepwalking. It indicates how fragile and vital the role of memory and consciousness is in legal contexts.
The supplied narratives and cases span from the realms of literature discussing stealth and calculated actions to real-life examples of complex behaviors performed during different states of consciousness, all converging on the legal implications and the understanding of human psychology.