Vancouver man on trial for sexual assault says he has ‘sexsomnia’ — defence fails

According to the Vancouver Sun, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Austin Cullen dismissed the so-called “sexsomnia” defence raised by businessman Karl Richard Antonius, 53, and found him guilty of the September 2015 offence committed against the victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban.

The victim testified that while on a blind date, she lost her keys and was subsequently invited to stay in Antonius' Hotel room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. She made it very clear that she had no interest in sexual relations, and swatted his hand away from groping her while she was in bed. Later at some point in the night, she woke up to him engaging in sexual intercourse without her consent, she said.

Antonius, an executive at a mining company who lost his job when the case went public, testified in his own defence, arguing he could not recall the incident due to his "sexsomnia."

This defence failed in court and Antonius was sentenced to two years in jail.