Justin Teixeira, UC Berkeley law student, to be tried in Las Vegas exotic bird killing case

(CBS/AP) LAS VEGAS - A University of California, Berkeley law student is headed to trial in Nevada state court on felony charges in what prosecutors say was the torture death and beheading of an exotic bird at a Vegas Strip resort.

PICTURES: Crimes against Animals (GRAPHIC IMAGES)

Court officials say 24-year-old Justin Teixeira waived an evidence hearing Wednesday on animal killing and animal torture charges in the Oct. 12 death of a helmeted guineafowl at the Flamingo Las Vegas.

Another Berkeley student, 25-year-old Eric Cuellar, pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor in the case. He was fined $200 and ordered to pay $150 in restitution to the Flamingo. He was also ordered to serve 48 hours of community service and enroll in an alcohol counseling class.

Police say Teixeira, Cuellar and another person are seen on security videotape chasing the gray bird to a spot near where the body was found. The video has not been made public.

A witness identified Teixeira and Cuellar and told police she saw Teixeira throw the bird's body at Cuellar.

Police said the bird's body was found on a walkway, and the head was found amid some nearby rocks.

The prosecutor says a third student may also be charged in connection to the bird killing.

Complete coverage of the Las Vegas bird killing case on Crimesider