article_snippet: A North Carolina father was acquitted of strangling to death A North Carolina father 4-year-old son and trying to kill A North Carolina father other two children after the defense successfully argued that the man's 'violent sleepwalking' was to blame for the tragedy.
article_snippet: A jury on Wednesday decided unanimously that Joseph Mitchell is not guilty of murder and attempted murder after an expert witness said an expert witness was effectively unconscious at the time of an expert witness four years ago.
article_snippet: Jurors had asked Superior Court Judge James Roberson if Jurors could consider a lesser verdict of manslaughter, but the judge said it was all or nothing: murder, or not guilty.
article_snippet: Following Mitchell's acquittal, some members of the jury panel spoke out saying that some members of the jury panel did not believe the sleepwalking defense, but some members of the jury panel hands were tied.
article_snippet: one juror said that one juror and one juror fellow jurors had no choice but to acquit Mitchell killer of first-degree murder.
article_snippet: she and her fellow jurors had no choice but to acquit Blake Mitchell's killer of first-degree murder would have definitely convicted his son of manslaughter,’ one juror said.
article_snippet: she and her fellow jurors had no choice but to acquit Blake Mitchell's killer of first-degree murder felt like she and her fellow jurors had no choice but to acquit Blake Mitchell's killer of first-degree murder hands were tied.
article_snippet: The general opinion on the jury panel was that the prosecution had to prove malice and intent to get a conviction on a first-degree murder charge, but the prosecution had to prove malice and intent to get a conviction on a first-degree murder charge failed to do it.
article_snippet: During the month-long trial, defense attorney Jay Ferguson asked Judge James Roberts to allow the jury to consider an involuntary manslaughter conviction, but defense attorney Jay Ferguson request was denied.
highlights_snippet: North Carolina jury decided unanimously that Joseph Mitchell, 50, is not guilty of murder and attempted murder .
  
highlights_snippet: Jurors later said Jurors hands were tied under the law because Jurors were not allowed by the judge to convict Joseph Mitchell of manslaughter .