A parrot called Bud could be a key witness in the fatal shooting of a man in Michigan, the man’s ex-wife believes.

She claims the bird can repeat the last words said by Martin Duram - but the prosecutor in the case is playing down whether the evidence will stand up in court.

Newaygo County prosecutor Robert Springstead said that when a judge asks a witness to raise his or her right hand when giving evidence, “to a parrot, are you raising a wing, a foot?”

Mr Duram (45) was shot five times in his home in Ensley Township in May 2015.

His ex-wife, Christina Keller, now owns Bud, an African grey parrot.

She told Wood-TV that Bud has repeated “don’t [expletive] shoot” in her former husband’s voice.

No charges have been filed in the case and Mr Duram’s death remains under investigation.

PA