A PARROT called Bud could be a key witness in the fatal shooting of a man in Michigan, his ex-wife believes.
She says the parrot repeats the last words said by Martin Duram - but the prosecutor in the case is downplaying whether the evidence would stand up in court.
"I'm not aware of any legal precedent for that," Newaygo County Prosecutor Robert Springstead said.
"Certainly, as we work our way through the case, that may be something to look at, but I highly doubt there is any precedent for that."
Mr Springstead added that when a judge asks a witness to raise his or her right hand, "to a parrot, are you raising a wing, a foot?"
Mr Duram (45) was shot five times in his home in Ensley Township in May 2015. His wife Glenna Duram had a head wound, but survived.
Mr Duram's ex-wife, Christina Keller, now owns Bud, an African grey parrot that has repeated "don't f*****g shoot" in her former husband's voice, she told WOOD-TV.
Mr Springstead said he has not heard the parrot.
"I tried to on my smartphone and online. I couldn't get the audio feed to work," he said.
No charges have been filed in the case and Mr Duram's death remains under investigation. Mr Springstead said it appeared not to be self-inflicted.
"As soon as I receive the investigation, I will make a charging decision," he said. "I expect that to happen in the next few weeks."