Juror Removed from Flamingo Abuse Trial After Profane Remark About Defendant

A prospective juror was dismissed Tuesday (Oct. 13) from the trial of Mitchell Fairbarn, the Canadian tourist accused of stealing and abusing a flamingo at the Flamingo Las Vegas in March. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the man was overheard making a profane remark about Fairbarn in a hallway at Clark County District Court. A still from elevator surveillance footage allegedly shows Mitchell Fairbarn abducting a flamingo at 5:15 a.m. on March 3, 2026. His face was obscured in court documents. (Image: Las Vegas Justice Court) Flamingo Remark Didn’t Fly The remark occurred outside the courtroom as Fairbarn, 34, waited for jury selection to begin. Mitchell Fairbarn. (Image: Instagram) Judge Jacqueline Bluth said the prospective juror referred to Fairbarn as “the piece of s*** that took the flamingo,” a comment overheard by court staff. Before the remark surfaced, the man had already told the judge he had seen extensive media coverage about the case and did not believe he could remain neutral. “It was all over the news, social media, everywhere,” he said. “I cannot be fair in this case.” Following a private discussion with attorneys, Judge Bluth removed the man from the panel, saying that his comment made it impossible for him to serve impartially. Sitting Ducks Fairbarn, who is from Ontario, Canada, is charged with two counts of animal cruelty for allegedly stealing a flamingo from the Flamingo Las Vegas wildlife habitat and taking it to his hotel room, where prosecutors say it was tortured.According to security footage, Fairbarn entered the habitat at about 5 a.m. on March 3, 2026. Investigators said he first chased one flamingo and injured its wing before grabbing another—Peachy, a longtime resident of the resort’s outdoor sanctuary. Peachy is taken by elevator to a room on the Flamingo’s 14th floor. Which tower was never specified. (Image: Las Vegas Justice Court) The video shows Fairbarn tucking Peachy under his shirt and jacket and boarding a tower elevator with another man. (Only Fairbarn was charged.) After exiting on the 14th floor, police said, he laughed and announced, “I’m taking it home.” What happened next, according to the arrest report, was captured on Fairbarn’s own phone: images and video of him choking Peachy and throwing the bird to the floor. Police said Peachy screamed during the assault while Fairbarn laughed. Fairbarn told officers he had been drinking heavily, claimed he took the bird to “pop” its wing back into place, and admitted his behavior was “repulsive,” according to the report. Officers described Peachy as distressed but alive when they arrived. Both Peachy and the flamingo whose wing was clipped were treated by veterinarians working with the resort and reportedly made a full recovery. Caesars Entertainment, which owns the Flamingo, called the incident “deeply distressing.” The Case Proceeds The case will continue later this week as prosecutors outline their evidence regarding Peachy’s disappearance and alleged mistreatment. Defense attorney Joshua Tomsheck said Fairbarn maintains his innocence and intends to contest the allegations at trial. Opening statements are expected once the jury is sworn in. Fairbarn is not in custody but is under high-level electronic monitoring. According to the Review-Journal, a jury of six men and eight women was selected after attorneys questioned dozens of potential jurors for hours. Their views on animals, their exposure to news about the case, and their ability to weigh evidence objectively were all considered. The pool reflected a wide range of personal experiences with animals. Some prospective jurors described their pets as family members, while one said he hunts and eats “anything I’m allowed to.” The post Juror Removed from Flamingo Abuse Trial After Profane Remark About Defendant appeared first on Casino.org.