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Canadian Tourist Convicted for Stealing Flamingo from Las Vegas Hotel
· Confirmed
In Short: A Canadian man has been convicted of animal cruelty for taking a flamingo named Peachy from its habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, according to reports from the BBC (United Kingdom) and Cbc (Canada).
The incident occurred in March when Mitchell Fairbarn, 34, visited Las Vegas for a work event at the Con Expo and reportedly consumed 30 to 40 beers over a 24-hour period, as reported by CBS News and KLAS-TV.
According to the BBC (United Kingdom), Fairbarn testified that he thought taking the bird would be 'funny' and that he never intended to harm the animal. However, his lawyer, Josh Tomsheck, argued that Fairbarn's actions were a 'harmless prank' fueled by alcohol, as reported by the BBC (United Kingdom) and Global News (Canada).
The Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, located on the Las Vegas Strip, features a wildlife habitat that is free to walk through, home to a flock of Chilean flamingos, fish, and turtles, as reported by the BBC (United Kingdom) and Cbc (Canada).
During the trial, 14 witnesses testified and more than 112 pieces of evidence were reviewed, according to the BBC (United Kingdom) and CBS News.
Animal experts testified that Peachy suffered from torn feathers and blood loss due to Fairbarn's actions, as reported by the BBC (United Kingdom) and Global News (Canada).
Fairbarn's lawyer, Josh Tomsheck, told jurors that his client deeply regretted the 'bad decisions' made while intoxicated and did not mean to hurt the flamingo, as reported by LiveNOW from FOX, Cbc (Canada), and Fox News.
Prosecutors argued that Fairbarn's actions were malicious and that the bird was injured during the encounter, as reported by KSNV, The Guardian, and Rockymounttelegram.
The flamingo, named Peachy, was found to have seven to eight missing feathers, broken shafts, and blood loss consistent with trauma, according to Global News (Canada) and Cbc (Canada).
Video evidence showed Fairbarn carrying the flamingo through the hotel, as reported by Gambling911 and Rockymounttelegram.
The jury found Fairbarn guilty of felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, as reported by Fox News and Rockymounttelegram.
The prosecutor stated that none of the unfortunate events would have occurred had Fairbarn not made the choices he did, as reported by KSNV, The Guardian, and Rockymounttelegram.
The defense argued that taking the bird was 'dumb' and 'fueled by drunkenness,' as reported by The Guardian, Gambling911, and Rockymounttelegram.
What's confirmed
- Testifying in his defence, Fairbarn, 34, said he thought it would be "funny" to take the bird.
- "The truth is, Mitch was drunk. Mitch was stupid. He made bad decisions."
- "He should not have done that, should not have gone into the habitat, shouldn't have touched a bird, shouldn't have taken Peachy inside," said his lawyer Josh Tomsheck, external.
- It features a flock of Chilean flamingos, other birds, fish and turtles.
- The Flamingo Las Vegas, located along the famous Las Vegas strip, features a wildlife habitat inside its hotel and casino that is free to walk through.
- Mitchell Fairbarn, who was visiting the US city, took the Chilean flamingo named Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in March.
- Peachy was injured during the incident and the flamingo’s treating veterinarian said the bird had seven to eight missing feathers, broken shafts and blood loss that were consistent with trauma.
- LAS VEGAS (AP) — A jury convicted a Canadian man of animal cruelty charges on Monday for snatching a flamingo named Peachy from its enclosure at an iconic Las Vegas hotel in what prosecutors called a drunken and malicious act.
- They pointed out that feathers were found on the hotel floor and said Peachy was in pain as Fairbarn pulled the bird by its feet.
- The 34-year-old was accused of “willfully, unlawfully, maliciously and feloniously” injuring the bird in the early hours of the morning, according to an indictment viewed by CBC.
- Defense attorney Josh Tomsheck told jurors at trial in a Nevada court that the man deeply regretted the “bad decisions” he made while intoxicated.
- Taking the bird was “dumb” and “fueled by drunkenness”, the defense attorney Tomsheck said.
What's still developing
- Fairbarn was seen on CCTV in an elevator on the way to his hotel room with the flamingo A Canadian man has been found guilty of animal cruelty after he took a flamingo from its enclosure in Las Vegas and brought it back to his hotel room during an alcohol-fuelled bender.
- The flamingo spent 15 minutes with Fairbarn and two to three minutes in the hotel room before Peachy was placed in the hallway.
- "I thought it was something that we could joke about for the rest of our lives," Fairbarn, described by various Las Vegas media outlets as a contractor from rural Ontario, said in court Friday.
- Unless you drink "30 to 40 beers" and steal a flamingo — because that will make international news.
- “I hope this sends a message to anybody else that wants to mess with our animals, that you’re not going to do it in Nevada,” he said outside the courtroom after Monday's verdict.