Killer doing bird after dead cockatoo sings

The old slang expression for informing to the police has traditionally been to "sing like a canary." Now the phrase may have to be changed in honour of a cockatoo who helped to convict the man who killed its owner.

Kevin Butler was attacked at his home in Pleasant Grove, Texas, on Christmas Eve, 2001, by Daniel Torres, following a row between the two men. During a violent struggle, Torres stabbed and slashed Butler in the chest, tied him up and delivered a savage beating.

Present during the attack was Butler's white-crested cockatoo, Bird. The cockatoo loyally tried to defend its owner, pecking Torres vigorously on the head before being killed itself.

Bird clearly put up quite a fight and drew blood from Torres who,as he stumbled out of the house, left traces on a light switch. Detectives used the DNA from these traces to track down Torres, who confessed and admitted that he had stabbed the bird with a fork.

In a Dallas court this week, Torres changed his story, blaming the murder on a half-brother. His evidence did not convince the jury who yesterday convicted him of murder. He has been jailed for life with no parole.

Torres may now have time to reflect on another old adage of crime: never argue with the beak.

© Guardian News & Media 2008
Published: 2/19/2003
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