Parrot May Have the Answer to a Killing
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 11— A defense lawyer in a Northern California murder case says he believes Max the parrot may be more than just an ordinary bird -- that Max may, indeed, hold the answer to who smothered Jane Gill to death in her bedroom two years ago.
Max, the lawyer says, may be a witness. But the jurors in the trial in Santa Rosa, 55 miles north of here, will not hear from Max. An attempt to get the African gray parrot's testimony -- rather, testimony about the bird's testimony -- into evidence last week was blocked by the judge.
Max was found dehydrated and hungry in its cage when the body of Ms. Gill, 36, was discovered two days after her death in November 1991.
After Max was coaxed back to health at a pet shop, the shop's owner said the bird began to cry out, "Richard, no, no, no!"
The man charged in the case is Ms. Gill's business partner, and his name is not Richard. He is Gary Joseph Rasp, and he says he is innocent.
Mr. Rasp's lawyer, Charles Ogulnik, brought up the parrot in court when he was questioning the defense's private investigator, Gary Dixon.
"Why did I ask you to follow up on the bird?" Mr. Ogulnik asked.
Mr. Dixon began, "The bird was making some spontaneous statements to its keeper---- "
An emphatic objection by the Sonoma County deputy district attorney, Phil Abrams, was sustained by Judge Raymond Giordano of Superior Court.
Mr. Ogulnik said in a telephone interview that he wanted to introduce evidence about the bird, not put Max on the witness stand.
No one will disclose where Max is now, but there are plenty of stories around the courthouse. Mr. Dixon, the private investigator, deadpanned that the bird was in a witness protection program. "Max's identity has been changed and he is now a macaw," he said