Despite the incident taking place in October, the pair from the University of California at Berkeley law school was not formally charged at the time, angering nature lovers and even the author of Nevada’s felony animal cruelty law, reports the blog, Above The Law.

Fowl fouled

Justin Teixeira, 24, was identified by a witness who alleges she saw him emerging from bushes in the wildlife habitat of the Flamingo casino with the dead bird -- a 14-year-old helmeted guinea fowl named Turk. He then allegedly threw it at Eric Cuellar, also 24, before proclaiming ‘I (expletive) killed wildlife’.
According to a statement from the Clark County District Attorney’s office, Mr Teixeira was charged with killing another person’s animal, torturing, overdriving, injuring or abandoning animals, conspiracy to torture, harass or abandon animals, and instigating, engaging in or furthering an act of cruelty to an animal. He faces a possible prison sentence and other potential punishment.

Cruel act

Mr Cuellar, 24, was charged with instigating, engaging in or furthering an act of cruelty to an animal. If convicted, he could face a sentence of two days to six months in jail, 48 to 120 hours of community service, and a $200 to $1,000 fine, among other possible punishments.
District Attorney Steven Wolfson said: ‘This was a cruel and malicious act. It is important to hold people accountable for their actions.’
The Berkley students will be back in Las Vegas next month for their arraignment.