Squawking Peacock Squelched

Woman accused of killing peacock with baseball bat

Published - May 29 2009 08:43PM CDT



A woman accused of clubbing to death a peacock with a baseball bat has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty. The woman was charged with second-degree animal cruelty, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 19.

The woman previously admitted to killing the bird to reporters because she was tired of its constant squawking.

In her defense, the woman said it could not be animal cruelty because it was a fair fight. Puzzled reporters asked why she considered beating the bird to death with a baseball bat a fair fight. The woman reponded by pointing out that the bird and the bat were just about the same size so the peacock had an equal chance.

She said she brought up her concerns at board meetings at Makaha V, where she lived, but was unable to get any relief and was unable to sleep at night.

After listening to the woman's defense statement, the judge ordered her committed for psychiatric evaluation before being formally charged.

No members of the bashed peacock's immediate family could be located so the bird was laid to rest in the Makaha V dumpster. The body can be viewed until 11 AM on Thursday, which is the regularly scheduled trash pickup date.