the staff of the Ridgewood blog
MAHWAH, NJ — A shocking twist has emerged in a Bergen County murder case: a 76-year-old Mahwah man accused of stabbing his wife to death in 2021 is claiming he was sleepwalking during the incident, according to his attorney.
In an update published by NJ.com this week, defense attorney Brian Neary of Hackensack said that Dieter Zimmermann, who was 73 at the time of the killing, was experiencing a “mental disease” when he fatally stabbed Jacqueline Zimmermann, 69, in their home on Indian Field Court on January 12, 2021.
Tragic Discovery in Mahwah Home
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, police were dispatched to the couple’s home around 7:45 a.m. following a domestic violence call. When Mahwah police arrived, they found Dieter Zimmermann with scratches and a bleeding finger.
Inside an upstairs bathroom, officers discovered Jacqueline Zimmermann deceased, the result of what authorities described as a violent stabbing.
A Complex Defense: Sleepwalking and Mental Illness
As the case heads toward trial, Neary has confirmed that Zimmermann’s defense will center on the rare and controversial claim of sleepwalking. He says the elderly man suffered from a mental condition that caused him to act involuntarily at the time of the killing.
“This is an unusual defense, but grounded in medical history and psychological evidence,” Neary told NJ.com.
Family Torn Apart
The Zimmermanns shared three children and several grandchildren, making the tragedy all the more heartbreaking for the family and community.
While prosecutors continue to pursue first-degree murder charges, the defense’s strategy is likely to raise legal and ethical debates around criminal liability in cases involving alleged sleep disorders.
What’s Next?
As of now, no trial date has been officially set, but both sides are preparing for what could be a closely watched legal battle in Bergen County Superior Court.
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Hilarious !
AFAIR, it worked in a case in the UK many years ago……
I’ve been on two juries. JHC, I couldn’t believe how stupid some of my fellow jurers were. This excuse is probably worth a shot.