A parrot named Hercule helped solve his owner's death in a case that had been baffling police for months.
Neelam Sharma, 45, and her dog were found murdered at her home on February 20th. Her husband, Vijay Sharma, the editor of the Hindu daily was desperate for any clue as to who ended his wife's life. Vijay said he started to notice a change in the behaviour of Neelam's parrot whenever his nephew, Ashutosh, came to the house.
"Even during discussions, when Ashutosh's name was mentioned, the parrot would start screeching," he said. "This raised my suspicion and I informed the police."
The police then interrogated Ashutosh, who admitted the murder.
"We checked his call details and took him into custody. He accepted his crime and informed us that he was accompanied by an accomplice. They had entered the house with the intention of taking away cash and other valuables," SSP Agra, Shalabh Mathur told the Indian Times.
Concerned that his aunt might recognise him, he stabbed her and her dog because he started to bark and Ashutosh was concerned the dog would alert the neighbours. What Ashutosh didn't count on was that the parrot watching him silently from the corner would be his undoing in the crime.
