Berkeley law student to stand trial in beheading of animal
A University of California, Berkeley law student will stand trial in the October beheading of an exotic bird named Turk on the Strip.
Justin Teixeira faces four counts, including felony killing another person’s animal and other animal cruelty charges. Teixeira, who is in his final year of law school, could face a possible prison term if convicted.
On Wednesday he waived his right to a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors planned to show they had enough evidence to take the case to a jury.
An arraignment hearing was set for May 13.
Prosecutors believe that at least three other students from the prestigious law school were with Teixeira when the 14-year-old helmeted guineafowl was decapitated at the Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat on Oct. 12.
One of the students, Eric Cuellar, pleaded guilty in January to instigating an act of cruelty to an animal, a misdemeanor.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
