A defense lawyer in a Northern California murder case says he believes Max the parrot may be more than just an ordinary bird -- that Max may, indeed, hold the answer to who smothered Jane Gill to death in her bedroom two years ago.

Max, the lawyer says, may be a witness. But the jurors in the trial in Santa Rosa, 55 miles north of here, will not hear from Max. An attempt to get the African gray parrot's testimony -- rather, testimony about the bird's testimony -- into evidence last week was blocked by the judge.

Max was found dehydrated and hungry in its cage when the body of Ms. Gill, 36, was discovered two days after her death in November 1991.

After Max was coaxed back to health at a pet shop, the shop's owner said the bird began to cry out, "Richard, no, no, no!"