Berkeley student to go to trial in Vegas bird case

By Ken Ritter, Associated Press

Published Wednesday, April 24, 2013 | 8:37 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, April 24, 2013 | 11:42 a.m.

A University of California, Berkeley law student is headed to trial in Nevada state court on felony charges in what prosecutors say was the torture death and beheading of an exotic bird at a Strip resort.

Court officials say 24-year-old Justin Teixeira waived an evidence hearing Wednesday on animal killing and animal torture charges in the Oct. 12 death of a helmeted guineafowl at the Flamingo Las Vegas.

Teixeira's lawyer didn't immediately respond to messages.

Another Berkeley student pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor, and the prosecutor says a third student may also be charged.