Peacock beaten to death with baseball bat
Waianae, HI (US)Incident Date: Monday, May 25, 2009
County: Honolulu
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Sandra Maloney
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A Makaha woman who killed a peacock has been charged with animal cruelty, and she blames her condo association. Sandra Maloney admits to killing the bird. If convicted, she could face up to a year in jail.
"I really feel bad about it. I love birds, I love animals," said Sandra Maloney.
Sandra Maloney says she's sorry for killing one of the peacocks at the Makaha Valley Towers. But she says the birds' endless mating calls just pushed her over the edge.
"I haven't had any sleep since January, February. They started squawking all night long, on and off all night long, every single night," said Maloney.
She says the birds are also a health hazard.
"They crap all over our picnic area, there's feces running down the BBQ, and the food prep areas on the picnic tables and the benches," said Maloney.
On Sunday, Maloney says she was in her apartment when about a dozen of them started squawking away. She says she grabbed a baseball bat, chased one down, and clubbed it to death. Maloney is now charged with second degree animal cruelty.
"We are pursuing the prosecution of it and plan to do it vigorously. Yes, there has been outcry about this. I think that that reflects one, the manner in which it has been reported to have occurred, two I think the people understand and cherish the wildlife here in Hawaii," said Peter Carlisle, Honolulu prosecutor.
The attack has upset many in the community and even some in Maloney's building.
"I think it was just awful that it happened and it shouldn't have happened," said Ted Pond, Makaha Valley Towers resident.
Maloney says she tried to bring up the peacock issue at board meetings, but says she was always shot down.
"I was told quite hatefully by one of the board members that the peacocks were here before I was and if i didn't like them I should move," said Maloney.
Even though she says she's sorry for what she's done, Maloney doesn't see how killing a peacock is any different from eradicating coqui frogs.
"The coqui frogs make a lot of noise, and that's what everybody objects to, and they're trying to kill them. The peacocks make a lot of noise, and that's what I object to," said Maloney.
This isn't the first time a peacock was killed on the property. Residents say they've found at least 10 dead birds over the last few months
Case UpdatesA judge today continued until June 19 the arraignment of Sandra Maloney on charges of misdemeanor cruelty to an animal, according to Jim Fulton of the Honolulu prosecutor's office.
Earlier reports that she pleaded not guilty were not correct.
She was not able to enter a plea because her attorney did not appear this morning in Waianae District Court, Fulton said.
Maloney, of Makaha, is accused of beating a peacock to death with a baseball bat.
She is charged with second-degree animal cruelty, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
When Maloney makes her next court appearance at 9 a.m. June 19, she can either demand or waive a jury trial, after which she can enter a plea. | Source: Honolulu Advertiser - May 30, 2009
Update posted on May 31, 2009 - 11:07PM |
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