Tourist Testifies 30–40 Beers Before Flamingo Theft

Canadian contractor Mitchell Fairbairn testified in his Las Vegas trial over taking Peachy, a flamingo from the Flamingo hotel’s habitat, to his room. He said he had consumed 30 to 40 beers, was intoxicated and sleep-deprived, and took the bird for what he called a “silly prank,” denying he intended to harm or kill it. Fairbairn acknowledged he should not have entered the enclosure and that the bird was hurt; prosecutors challenged his account that he went in to help an apparently injured flamingo, and he admitted he had lied about that explanation. He said he kept Peachy in his room for only a few minutes before leaving the bird in a hallway, where he was arrested.