The story of Kevin the Kookaburra has taken a new and dramatic turn as it is reported that his alleged killer has fled Australia.
To quickly recap what’s happened so far, Kevin the Kookaburra was having a normal day just chilling outside the Parkerville Tavern in Perth and occasionally stealing food from pubgoers.
But the bird stole a chip off the wrong person’s plate as the wronged man got so enraged that he allegedly decapitated Kevin with his bare hands.
Following the alleged incident, the man reportedly (via 9News) has been inundated with so many death threats that his lawyer, Ross Williamson, has said that he’s fled Australia with his partner.
While refusing to discuss details of the case, the allegations or whether his client is responsible or not for Kevin the kookaburra’s death, Williamson did state that he issued out two restraining orders to women who were involved in an online vigilante campaign.
Williamson also tried to make it clear that the kookaburra is an “invasive species” and Kevin in particular is a known nuisance.
“I’ve told people to stop threatening to kill, harm or rape my client. The kookaburra is an invasive species in WA. Until recently you could shoot them with impunity and people used to do that and get a community service award for doing that sort of thing.
“This particular bird I have reports about. It has attacked children. It’s injured the faces of children… this bird is – or was – a dangerous nuisance animal and the Parkerville Tavern should have done something to deal with it.”
Just wanted to clarify though that kookaburras are actually a native species and are only considered an invasive species in Tasmania.
Anyway, Williamson then turned his attention to the state government and had a go at them for focusing on investigating the alleged decapitation of Kevin the kookaburra rather than going after those making death threats to his client.
“I hear nothing about the police investigating and prosecuting people for making threats to harm, kill and rape my clients. I call on the police to do that – to investigate this criminal vigilante.”
Well he’s not wrong about the investigation part.
Following Kevin’s decapitation, RSPCA WA issued a statement confirming that they’re pursuing the matter while Agriculture and Food Minister, Alannah MacTiernan, has confirmed that the incident is under review, saying: “We are now checking with the department whether or not this can be characterised as an act of animal cruelty.”
It remains to be seen how this unfortunate tale of Kevin the kookaburra will resolve itself, whether the alleged killer will be brought to justice, and whether Williamson’s client who fled the country will return to Australia at some point.
But for now, let’s have a beer and put out a plate of pub chips in memory of Kevin the kookaburra.