A Colorado Man Doesn’t Give A Hoot, Using A Stuffed Owl To Defend Himself In Court

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Well, this is certainly a first in the history of law. According to The Aspen Times, a 67-year-old Colorado man named Charles Abbott was in court on Tuesday for violating a protection order against his former roommate. Abbott, feeling his feathers had been ruffled by the legal system, brought in a wise defender that he felt would fight on his side: a stuffed owl.

Yes, Mr. Abbott used a small stuffed owl to defend himself in a court of law.

The hearing involved Abbott violating a restraining order placed on him by his former roomie Michael Stranahan. Abbott had allegedly assaulted Stranahan earlier in the month, causing the order to be put against him. Of course, a simple piece of paper was not enough to dissuade a sane man such as Abbott. As soon as Stranahan left town, Abbott was caught taking his supposed belongings from his former residence.

At the hearing to face Stranahan, Abbott showed up with a stuffed owl. Claiming it was his public defender, he placed the cuddly critter on the table before him as he sat down. His reasoning to Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely as to why he had done this seemed sincere. Of course by sincere, I mean absolutely crazy:

“He’s a very sensitive guy, has law degrees from Yale, Harvard and Stanford,” Abbott told Pitkin County Court Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely. “I think he’ll be able to represent me before a public defender comes online.”

The judge was quick to dismiss the feathered defender, and continued on with the proceedings. Later, Judge Fernandez-Ely offered the two men to receive mediation, but understandably, Stranahan seemed to not want to go that route:

“I want it to remain in place because I don’t feel safe about being in close proximity to Charles Abbott,” Stranahan said.

The final agreement between the two men was that they could attend the same church, so long as Abbott didn’t try to contact Stranahan.

I guess in this case, owls well that ends well.

(Via:The Aspen Times)

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