Prosecutor: Theft was motive in Zoo Boise monkey killing
Prosecutors say the man accused of killing a monkey at Boise's zoo hoped to steal the animal -- but he was bitten and then he clubbed it to death with a tree branch.
Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Fafa Alidjani said Wednesday that Michael J. Watkins entered the zoo Saturday morning, manipulated a lock to get into the primate enclosure, and removed the Patas monkey by wrapping it in his jacket.
Fourth District Judge Michael Oths denied a request from Watkins' public defender to reduce bail from $150,000 to $10,000.
Alidjani argued bail shouldn't be reduced because Watkins has a history of arrests from drugs and drunken driving, and probation violations.
Police have said they don't expect others to be charged, but Watkins' public defender, Gary Reedy, told the judge at least one individual entered the zoo with Watkins.
The individual, whose name has not been released, was not charged in the crime. During the police investigation, he reportedly told officers that Watkins had entered the enclosure with the intention of stealing the monkey. His statements reportedly led investigators to charge Watkins with felony burglary
Media cameras were not allowed inside the courtroom for the arraignment.
The case has received a lot of national and social media coverage.
(AP contributed to this story)
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