From BBC News · · 1m 10s
Canadian tourist guilty of stealing Las Vegas flamingo
Mitchell Fairbarn convicted of animal cruelty after taking a Chilean flamingo from a hotel habitat to his room during a drinking binge.
In brief
Mitchell Fairbarn convicted of animal cruelty after taking a Chilean flamingo from a hotel habitat to his room during a drinking binge. Canadian tourist Mitchell Fairbarn was convicted of animal cruelty for stealing a flamingo from a Las Vegas hotel during an alcohol-fuelled incident in March. Originally reported by…
Canadian tourist steals flamingo
Mitchell Fairbarn, visiting Las Vegas, took a Chilean flamingo named Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in March and brought it to his hotel room.
Jury hears evidence of harm
Videos showed Fairbarn carrying the bird by the neck in a lift. Animal experts testified Peachy had feathers torn out and suffered blood loss. Fairbarn testified he had drunk thirty to forty beers.
Defence blames alcohol
Fairbarn's lawyer Josh Tomsheck said his client intended it as a harmless prank. Tomsheck told the court: "The truth is, Mitch was drunk. Mitch was stupid. He made bad decisions."
“The truth is, Mitch was drunk. Mitch was stupid. He made bad decisions.”
Convicted, facing prison time
A jury took five hours to convict Fairbarn on felony and misdemeanour animal abuse charges.He faces nearly five years in prison.Sentencing is due in December.Peachy has largely recovered but is now more anxious around humans.
What matters most
Canadian tourist Mitchell Fairbarn was convicted of animal cruelty for stealing a flamingo from a Las Vegas hotel during an alcohol-fuelled incident in March.
