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Could Pet Parrot Testify In Michigan Murder Case? Prosecutor Says No Precedent

ENSLEY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - A 48-year-old western Michigan woman has been arrested in the death of her husband — and a pet parrot was the only witness.

WOOD-TV and MLive.com report Thursday that Glenna Duram is charged with first-degree murder in the May 2015 killing in Ensley Township.

Martin Duram was shot five times in the what was believed to have been a domestic dispute at the couple's home, in the in the 9000-block of 128th Street, northwest of Sand Lake.

Glenna Duram had a gunshot wound to the head, but survived.

Martin Duram's ex-wife has said she believes his parrot, Bud, has been repeating something said just before the shooting.

Christina Keller, who now owns Bud, told WOOD-TV that the parrot says "don't f****** shoot" in Martin Duram's voice.

Newaygo County Prosecutor Robert Springstead told The Associated Press on Monday he "highly doubts there is any precedent" that what's repeated by a parrot can be used as evidence. Springstead says that when a judge says to raise a right hand, "to a parrot, are you raising a wing, a foot?"

Springstead said, earlier this month, that he hasn't yet heard it.

According to reports, Glenna Duram became her husband's caregiver after he was seriously injured in an automobile accident in the 1990s.

The couple fought often, family members said. It had never before turned physical, but documents obtained by TV reporters allege that Glenna Duram had often joked about waiting for her husband to die.

What were described as suicide notes, allegedly written by the wife, were found in the home following the shootings.

Court records show no attorney listed for Glenna Duram.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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