Christopher Casey, 55 of the Hatboro section of Upper Moreland Township, was held for trial after a preliminary hearing on Thursday on charges of third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and possessing an instrument of crime in connection with the alleged stabbing of his next-door neighbor on January 14, The Pottstown Mercury reported.

Casey is accused of fatally stabbing 62-year-old Robert Wallace after an ongoing dispute which involved arguments about the defendant’s loud snoring.

According to police, Wallace showed up at Casey’s residence while Casey was eating dinner. Following a verbal altercation between the two men, Casey used a large, military style knife to stab Wallace several times. Police found blood both inside and outside of the residence.

Casey now faces a formal arraignment hearing within the next several weeks. A judge will then schedule Casey’s trial date.

Casey remains in the county jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

“Casey said for the past year and a half, he and Wallace have been having personal issues because Casey’s loud snoring has become a source of contention,” the criminal complaint said.

Upper Moreland police had previously responded to numerous incidents involving arguments between Casey and Wallace.

A conviction of third-degree murder carries a possible maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison. A conviction of voluntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, carries a possible maximum sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, The Mercury said.

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Photo: Montgomery County District Attorney