Idaho Man Gets More Time in Monkey Killing Case

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A 22-year-old Idaho man accused of killing a monkey in the Boise zoo won more time to prepare to defend himself against felony burglary and grand theft charges.

Michael J. Watkins' attorney told a 4th District Court magistrate judge Wednesday she hadn't had adequate opportunity to review about 130 pages of documents stemming from the Nov. 17 break-in at Zoo Boise. Consequently, Judge Theresa Gardunia pushed back Watkins' preliminary hearing until Jan. 17.

That was over objections from prosecutors, who said they had lined up law enforcement officers and zoo officials to testify on Wednesday about what happened the night the patas monkey was killed. Prosecutors say Watkins, who appeared in court in jailhouse stripes, tried to steal the animal but bludgeoned it to death after it fought back.