Sexsomnia

A Northern Territory man has been acquitted of rape charges, successfully claiming he had sex with a woman while he was asleep and has no memory of the event. He had, of course, been drinking at the time of the unwanted penetration.

Next a Northern Territorian will claim to have been asleep and have no recollection of breaking into a neighbour's house, carting off the plasma TV, raping the wife, murdering the husband and burning down the house. Don't blame the perpetrator; he has a sleep disorder. Note to self: if ever arrested in the Northern Territory, claim to have been asleep at the time you are alleged to have broken the law, informing the police you had been drinking.

Juries elsewhere in Australia are unlikely to buy this, however. The synergistic effects of heat and alcohol are involved, making Northern Territory juries keen to acquit, go home, sit in an air-conditioned room, drink beer, watch TV, doze off and engage in sex they can't remember. Hmm, sort of reminds me of my university days.