A Circuit Court jury this afternoon found a Makaha woman, on trial for killing a peacock with a baseball bat, not guilty of second-degree charge of cruelty to animals.

Sandra Maloney, 70, had testified that before the incident in May 2009 she had not had a good night’s sleep for months because of constant squawking from peacocks outside her condominium at Makaha Valley Towers.  

She bludgeoned the peacock to death with a baseball bat after seeing it defecate on a barbecue as she was shooing it and others away from the area. She testified during the trial that she intended to take the dead bird to her apartment and cook it.

Maloney said she does not plan to take swings at any more birds but believes the verdict sends the message that it is open season on the peacocks.

The state has said a hunting permit is not necessary to kill peacocks because they are not wildlife, but feral animals.

Maloney said she plans to sue her condominium association for refusing to take action against the noisy birds.