A Philadelphia resident has been sentenced to prison after confessing to the involuntary manslaughter of his neighbor in a dispute that authorities say was sparked by loud snoring.
Christopher Casey, a 55-year-old Hatboro resident, received an 11-and-a-half to 23-month prison sentence in Montgomery County Court. This will be followed by three years of probation. Casey pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge and to possession of an instrument of crime.
According to The Independent, the Upper Moreland Township Police responded to a 911 call made by Casey on January 15, reporting a stabbing incident at his residence. Upon arrival, the police found Robert Wallace, 62, approximately 50 feet from Casey's home, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Casey himself had a stab wound on his right thigh. Both men were rushed to Abington Hospital, but Wallace was declared dead less than an hour after being discovered.
Investigations uncovered that the police were familiar with both men due to their ongoing disputes over Casey's loud snoring, which Wallace could hear through the shared wall of their residences. At the crime scene, the police found "a large military-style knife" and a cellphone on Casey's front porch. They also discovered a window screen that Wallace had removed to confront Casey about his snoring while he was having dinner.
Following their argument, Casey used the knife to stab Wallace multiple times, with traces of blood found both inside and outside the residence. Casey was arrested on January 18 on charges of third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and possession of an instrument of crime. His bail was set at $1 million in cash.
6ABC reported that Casey told the police that Wallace seemed to calm down after about 20 minutes of conversation through the window. He was willing to shake hands and even offered to help Casey pay for nasal surgery. However, Casey remained wary and decided to surprise Wallace by stabbing him with the knife, he reportedly told the police. The police referred to Casey's leg wound as a self-inflicted and accidental stab wound.
Prosecutors stated that Casey stabbed Wallace after the latter pushed in the window and threatened to kill Casey. Wallace's family members allege that he had been unable to sleep due to Casey's snoring, leading to fatigue that was affecting his life and work capacity.
In court, Casey expressed his regret to the victim's family members, describing the argument that led to their loved one's death as "unfortunate." His defense argued that Casey, who they described as "a really good man," had been threatened numerous times before the incident and was not equipped to handle this type of sustained abuse and threats.
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