Update on August 1: Hang was sentenced to four weeks in jail.

A step-mother has admitted to killing her step-daughter's pet parrot after getting bitten by the animal, Lianhe Zaobao reports.

The confession came on July 25, 2018, and the defendant, who has been charged with animal cruelty, is currently awaiting sentencing on August 1, 2018.

Bitten on the cheek

The chain of events started last year on October 27, when 39-year-old Tran Thi Thuy Hang reached their home at Blk 101 Rivervale Walk, Sengkang.

When she walked past her 27-year-old step-daughter Yang Mei Ling (also known as Yu Mei Ling) in the living room, the parrot on the latter's shoulder suddenly flew over to Hang and bit her on the right cheek, almost injuring her eye in the process.

This was between 8pm to 9pm.

Hang, who works as a manicurist, then ran to her room and complained about the bird to her husband, 61-year-old Yang Qing Ming.

She then threatened to kill the parrot — a Sun Conure named Lucky — if it was not removed from their home.

Threw body and cage down rubbish chute

When Hang noticed that Lucky was still in its cage the next morning, she waited till her husband and step-daughter left before taking action.

Hang opened the bird's cage and used a laundry pole to beat it to death.

She showed the dead bird to her husband when he returned home about an hour later from breakfast, even telling him that she had hit the parrot several times with the pole.

Hang subsequently disposed of the bird and its cage at the central rubbish chute.

A beloved pet

On November 6, 2017, Yu made a complaint about Hang to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

Yu is a national netballer who has represented Singapore in several international competitions, such as the Asian Netball Championships and the Nations Cup.

In a 2013 interview, she said she likes to play with Lucky in her free time, and described the bird as "cute, fun and entertaining".

Sun Conures generally have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years, but some have lived to 30 years of age.

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Animal cruelty act

According to Yahoo, the prosecution had asked for at least five weeks imprisonment for Hang.

However, Hang's lawyer Leong Keng Kheong said that his client had not intended to kill the parrot.

Instead, he argued that the act was committed out of frustration, as the defendant had "bled profusely" after the parrot bit her.

Leong therefore sought a "heavy fine" or a week's jail for Hang.

For animal cruelty, Hang faces a maximum of 18 months in jail and/or a fine of S$15,000.

Top image adapted via Pixabay