Woman convicted of killing husband after parrot repeated victim’s ‘last words’

Callum Boyle

The bird kept saying a specific phrase after the incident

A parrot was considered to be a “key witness” in a murder trial after he appeared to repeat, what is believed to be, the victim’s “last words”.

Martin Duram was killed at his home in Michigan in May, 2015 after being shot with a .22 caliber handgun five times.

His wife Glenna was found alive – next to him – but suffering from a single gunshot wound. Prosecutors later said that this was as a result of a failed suicide attempt.

Their neighbour first became concerned after not hearing from the couple for two days, testifying in court about how they would usually speak daily.

She eventually decided to enter the home to find the two bodies lying on the floor of the bedroom and initially believed that they were both dead before authorities arrived to notice that Glenna was still breathing.

Sgt. Gary Wilson explained to the court that as he went to check for Glenna’s pulse, she opened her eyes and body began to jerk, as she asked: “What are you doing?”

Glenna was found guilty of first-degree murder two years later following eight hours of deliberation by Newaygo County jury in Michigan.

According to Detroit News, police reports explained how the couple of 11 years had been suffering from financial difficulties in the lead-up to the shooting, which weren’t helped by Glenna’s gambling addiction.

The murder weapon – a Ruger Single-Six – was found under the love seat by investigators however, there was one key piece of evidence that helped solve the case: a parrot.

Could Bud the parrot be a key witness in his owner's murder? pic.twitter.com/xZIsEnMEyg

— Investigation Discovery (@DiscoveryID) October 3, 2019

Shortly after Martin’s death, his ex-wife Christina Keller took in his pet parrot Bud, and began to notice a specific phrase it would say.

In Martin’s voice, it would say: ‘Don’t shoot’.

“I think it’s a piece of the puzzle,” Keller told As It Happens.

“I think it’s possible last words.

“I truly believe, with all my heart, most of that comes from that night.”

Keller late revealed that she was left “terrified” by what the parrot was saying and that she could “hear screaming, yelling and fear.”

Although the parrot wasn’t used in the court proceedings, it was considered as an option, with Newago County Prosecutor Robert Springstead saying that there was some “evidence” to support Keller’s theory.

Glenna’s request for a new trial was denied by the state’s Court of Appeals in 2019 after she claimed her rights were violated when prosecutors used data extracted from phones as evidence in the case.

A year on, the Supreme Court announced she would not be allowed to appeal the decision down a denial that said the court was ‘not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court’.

The Cinemaholic have reported that Glenna is now serving a life sentence in Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Pittsfield Charter Township, Michigan.

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