jonza
02-25-2003, 06:19 AM
DALLAS - A hero cockatoo slain trying to protect its master from knife-wielding assailants proved the star witness in the trial of one of its owner's killers.
Daniel Torres was found guilty on Tuesday of murdering Kevin Butler. Prosecutors have said DNA evidence extracted from the bird's beak as well as blood trails caused when the bird violently pecked the assailants were key pieces of evidence that led to the conviction.
According to evidence presented in court, Torres and another suspect, who has yet to stand trial, broke into Butler's home. During a struggle in Butler's living room, the white-crested cockatoo named Bird after basketball great Larry Bird, swooped down on the attackers, clawed at their skin and pecked at their heads, said prosecutor George West.
West has said blood found in Bird's beak and at the sceneof the crime linked Torres to the murder.
Bird may have wounded Torres, but the protective parrot-relative paid the price for trying to take on two armed foes. Bird has its leg cut off and was found dead in the kitchen of Butler's home -- apparently stabbed to death by a fork in the back.
It took a Dallas jury less than an hour to find Torres guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison.
A white-crested cockatoo stands about 18 inches to 20 inches (46 cm to 51 cm) tall and has a beak powerful enough to snap thin tree branches, according to pet dealers.
Daniel Torres was found guilty on Tuesday of murdering Kevin Butler. Prosecutors have said DNA evidence extracted from the bird's beak as well as blood trails caused when the bird violently pecked the assailants were key pieces of evidence that led to the conviction.
According to evidence presented in court, Torres and another suspect, who has yet to stand trial, broke into Butler's home. During a struggle in Butler's living room, the white-crested cockatoo named Bird after basketball great Larry Bird, swooped down on the attackers, clawed at their skin and pecked at their heads, said prosecutor George West.
West has said blood found in Bird's beak and at the sceneof the crime linked Torres to the murder.
Bird may have wounded Torres, but the protective parrot-relative paid the price for trying to take on two armed foes. Bird has its leg cut off and was found dead in the kitchen of Butler's home -- apparently stabbed to death by a fork in the back.
It took a Dallas jury less than an hour to find Torres guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison.
A white-crested cockatoo stands about 18 inches to 20 inches (46 cm to 51 cm) tall and has a beak powerful enough to snap thin tree branches, according to pet dealers.