Parrot could be a witness to a possible murder case

A parrot could be a witness to a possible murder case.

Christina Keller, the ex-wife of murder victim Martin Duram, believes Duram's parrot repeated something that was said just before his fatal shooting in May 2015.

Duram, 45, was shot five times in his home in the US state of Michigan. His then wife Glenna Duram survived with a head wound.

Keller, who now owns Bud, an African grey parrot, told WOOD-TV that he repeated: "Don't f****** shoot", in her ex-husband's voice.

Newaygo county prosecutor Robert Springstead downplayed whether the parrot could be used in court.

“I’m not aware of any legal precedent for that,” he told the Associated Press.

“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.”

Springstead also said using a parrot could raise a few practical considerations.

Judges usually ask witnesses to raise their right hand, but "to a parrot, are you raising a wing, a foot?" he added.

No charges have been filed in the case and Duram's death remains under investigation. Springstead said the victim's injuries 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.”