Former Mets minor leaguer and sometime actor Joseph Petcka is on trial for killing his girlfriend’s 8-year-old tabby, Norman. It is a good example of such cases where both criminal and civil charges can be brought. His former girlfriend Sports Illustrated reporter Lisa Altobelli insists that it was intentional while Petcka insists that it was an accident.
Prosecutors alleged that Petcka killed Norman after arguing with Altobelli (who left the apartment around 3 .am.). He had allegedly woke up Altobelli to tell her that Norman had tried to bite him.
Norman was found later with a variety of severe injuries from broken teeth to broken ribs to a broken leg to a torn tongue. There was also massive internal injuries and a chest cavity filled with blood.
He had been drinking heavily on that night of March 27, 2007.
His lawyer insists that, when the cat tried to swat him, he hit the cat but did not intend to kill. He further complains that, absent the high publicity, the case would have been pleaded out without a significant sentence. His client now faces up to two years.
Altobelli told police that Petcka had previously complained: “You love that cat more than you love me.”
We discuss these cases in my torts class. The killing of pets is tragically common after break-ups or fights among couples. Such cases can result in lawsuits for intentional infliction of emotional distress as well as criminal charges. Indeed, it will be interesting to see if Altobelli sues. However, Petcka appears to have little in terms of assets. While he did act in a few episodes of shows like Sex in the City, he is currently working as a bartender. Certainly a job at Petco for Petcka appears unlikely.
Stories like this just turn my stomach! This monster should ABSOLUTELY go to jail!!! Hopefully, the inmates will give him a dose of his own medicine and he can suffer the way that sweet cat did! People who abuse/kill animals go on to do the same to humans. This sadistic lunatic needs to be off the streets and in prison with his own kind. I hope he meets the same fate as Jeffrey Dalmer did! Rest in peace, sweet Norman. You’re over the rainbow bridge now where no on else can hurt you.
Jail is too good for this guy. He deserves the same treatment that poor Norman received. Accident my a–.
I’m just please that someone bothered to go to the trouble to drag this idiot into court. It’s a well known fact that cat’s are, by far, more abused than dogs, and it’s not often enough that anyone gives these beautiful, wonderful, gentle, loving creatures the credit they deserve. Thank you for publishing this story and for even bothering to care… Now if the cat world only had a Leona Helmsley to leave their millions to for these gentle creatures, I’d be convinced the world is a better place. Let’s wait and see if the judge does what needs to be done or shrugs it off with a slap on the wrist.
Killing a defenseless animal is an indication of your character. I agree that this should be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowable. People that have this sort of rage and disregard for life eventually turn their rath toward human beings. I bet if you look back through his history, he has violent tendencies!
Injuries that sever, and he didn’t mean to kill the poor thing? I am sick and tired of idiots using “I had too much to drink.” I want to hear the truth, which is, I have too much monster – moron – bigot- whatever, inside. Stop balming the booze. It only give a wus guts, to say, or do, that he know is not right.
I hope this guy has to serve every last day of the maximum sentence, preferably in general population. It would be gratifying if he never had another television or movie rule, but “Hollyweird” is just that – weird. I know I’ll never watch another film/tv show in which he has a role.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” — Ghand
I hope he rotts in hell..Drunkeness is no excuse..I hope you read this you worthless pri**. ! You’ve gotten too big for your britches…I pray that you think about the life that you took every day for the rest of your life.
Self-defense, eh? Right. If what I read on the net is true, Petcka had abused the cat before. No wonder the poor thing was scared of him and trying what he possibly could to defend himself.
Petcka is scum. An innocent animal doesn’t deserve that. I hope he rots on hell. And I hope Lisa learns a lesson from this.
This is outrageous – only two years for brutally killing a defenseless animal. Our justice system needs to reevaluate the punishment in animal cruelty cases and start to view pets as living beings, not just property.
I’m nauseated by this and was instantly brought to tears thinking about what Normans last moments of fear and excruciating pain had to be like. I have three of my own and also belong to a resuce group. This beating is worth than anything I’ve seen to date. This guy is a poor excuse for a human being and beneath comtemptible – piece of white trash coward. Pick on someone that can fight back slime bag!! When do we get to take a shot at him? He needs to get the absolute maximum sentence and should be forced to look at pics of Norman’s beaten broken body every day all day long and than have to work with rescue groups for a few years. Send him my way; I’ll show him how Norman felt. I know Lisa had no idea this idiot would do this, but if Norman were a child, she never would have left him there and shouldn’t have. If someone is acting out, everyone knows they cannot be trusted – period – across the board. She should have thought of her cat too, even if she wasn’t sure, the rule is to err on the side of caution. This absolutely turns my stomach. I hope he rots in hell.
People that hurt defenseless animals like this scumbag and Governor Palin should be jailed!
One more thought – no one accidentally beats a living creature to death – we all make choices. His hand and feet didn’t have a mind of their own while that slimebag was chasing that cat around the apartment. The cat obviously didn’t sit there and take it so he had to consciously chase him to get him. It’s about time animal cruelty is being taken seriously with resulting consequences. I hope they find out in jail what he did and give him the same kind of treatment. They should let the animal control officers take a shot at him. I hope he never gets within five feet of another animal or child. Maybe they should use him as the dummy for K9 training……
I am a FIRM believer that many of the penalties in this country need to be much stiffer and animal cruelty is just one of them.
There is absolutely no excuse for injuring or killing a defenseless animal under ANY circumstance. This type of behavior should NOT be tolerated.
It is a FACT that most serial killers begin their lives of crime by torturing animals. Instead of the authorities giving these idiots probation because they “only injured a defenseless animal”, they should be treated like the scum they are.
If you murder someone or something, you are obviously not fit to remain in society.
I sincerly hope that the judge will use common sense in administering punishment.
Murder is murder PERIOD and Petka is an A–hole! He’s lucky it wasn’t my cat, that stupid SOB would have been wearing casts on both of his hands because I’d have broken them!
Killing domesticated animals is not what a “macho” man does. Instead its the actions of a mentally unbalanced child unable to control a larger situation so they transfer their impotence to a situation where they feel they do have control.
The guys a liar. You can’t kill a full grown cat by simply taking a poke at it. Cats are extremely strong, agile creatures and if he killed it then he meant to kill it.
I’d toss him in the klink for a year and let him think about it.
I only have one thing to say is “what a piece of sh*t.” He desereves the same that the cat got. I feel that 2 years isn’t enough, Let him loose at a PETA rally and let them take care of him.
John,
I’m gathering from the context that you’re talking about Mrs. Palin’s hunting. I agree that cruelly beating any animal to death is inexcusable.
I do however strongly disagree with any attempt to equate that to hunting. In my experience most hunters (including myself) work very hard to make the kill as quick and painless as possible.
Joseph Petcka, is panty wearing sissy faggot,coward, this is a clearly evident fact. Send him to us in Florida, we have animals in the everglades to take care of douche bags like him, this guy definitely is not a man, but a cowardly little faggot.
Joseph Petcka claims he didn’t mean to kill Norman because the cat swat at him and also tried to bite him!? The bully always tries to blame the victim! Of course Norman tried to bite him and swat at him, because this monster was BEATING THE CAT TO DEATH! Innocent victims, no matter animal or humans, that ever have been a victim of a crime like this, deserve our prayers.
People that abuse animals and those that abuse people should die. Less trash in the world would be a great thing.
Oh come on. The guy should “die”? For killing a cat?
Thats a fair and balanced justice to you?
I agree its a bad thing, but its not an offense worthy of the death penalty.
The only reason it was a Cat than ended up dead, is because the woman had no children, if she did, this would be another story, anyone who would beat a Cat as severe as he did would hurt a child in the same way, people like this should be locked up and/or put down.
This guy needs a psychotherapist with his jail sentence. They only dated for 6 weeks and he kills the cat in a jealous rage? Something’s really wrong with him. At least the cat is in heaven, this guy is in hell.
The defense attorney is a moron. Read this email he sent to somebody who was concerned about the case.
Kelly
I am amazed that you would find the time for a silly diatribe like this but
I guess people have excess time on their hands.
It might make you feel better to move to a place where people are guilty
until proven innocent and have no right to a lawyer since that scenario seems to
comport with your views much more than the way in which the justice system
works here.
As for me I sleep very well knowing that I devote my life to the defense of
justice and am sure that payback will reward me and the rewards garnered by
people like you will be commensurate with both your intolerance and lack of
intelligence
Be well and read the constitution (although for you it is probably a horror
story)
CHARLES S. HOCHBAUM
CRIMDEFEND@AOL.COM
16 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11241
(71 855-4800
fax 855-4877
Joseph “Petkilla” Petcka oughtta pay the piper.
You guys are nuts.
You’d KILL another human being because he killed a cat?
After the fact?
Cro Magnum, The answer would be yes, The next time Joseph Petcka has a tantrum it will be a someone’s kid and not their cat that ends up dying a brutal death.
The woman knew the guy six weeks and they were living together in HER apartment. She had to leave HER apartment to get away from him. What the hell was she thinking.
Another bum hanging on a woman’s tit for financial support and “love”. Ahh yeah he needs therapy and so does she for leaving the pet.
This felon should receive the longest sentence possible, but I am also amazed how people get extremely upset about the death of an animal but won’t even flinch when they are told that our President has tortured human beings. Some of those prisoners actually died from their wounds which were inflicted by the U.S. torturers and the response to those deaths is not as vehement as it was when this idiot killed this poor cat. I think Bush should get a sentence several times as long as this cat killer.
Pete, you are having a battle of wits, but you have come unarmed and in to the wrong side of town.
Good Luck
Rob in Florida
1, September 18, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Cro Magnum, The answer would be yes, The next time Joseph Petcka has a tantrum it will be a someone’s kid and not their cat that ends up dying a brutal death
Oh come on. Thats an incredible stretch at best.
You’d execute a living, breathing human being because he killed a cat?
A. How does that constitute a moral code of law?
B. Since when did you cat lovers suddenly become Death Penalty advocates?
C. If someone steps on a cockroach, should they lose a toe?
That he should go to jail for a bit to contemplate his crime is one thing, but to suggest the man be put to DEATH?
What is this Iran?
Hey, a life for a life sounds like justice to me.
Pete:
I rarely monitor and edit comments but your last comment has been deleted due to foul and insulting language. This site is reserved for people who want to have a civil discourse. You are invited to contribute but I ask that you refrain from vulgar attacks.
JT
What some of you people are here are not seeing, is that cats are innocent and helpless, like babies. Most people are not. Not everyone subscribes to the belief system that human life is so far superior to other lives. I certainly don’t. I would save an animal or a child, over an adult human every single day of the week.
Cro Magnum Man,
In regard to would we kill a human being over a cat. Most of us wouldn’t but we are not talking about a human being here, we are talking about a piece of excrement. However, if some beast did this to my cat, I most certainly would kill them.
Most of us wouldn’t but we are not talking about a human being here, we are talking about a piece of excrement.
Well, it’s certainly easier to consider someone an inanimate object than it is to accept the reality that he is a human and sometimes humans do terrible things. Sometimes they even regret those things and become better people.
That’s not to say it’s going to happen in this case, but it’s certainly a more complex issue than “he killed a cat, he deserves to die.” Do all hunters deserve to be put to death? How about meat eaters?
I would save an animal or a child, over an adult human every single day of the week.
What if the child liked to torture animals? What if it was between a selfless, giving, loving adult and a crocodile? Would you save a kangaroo over a kindergarten teacher? A halibut over a heart surgeon?
LJM,
Stop considering the implications of blanket statements. Don’t you know this is the internet?
Susan
1, September 19, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Hey, a life for a life sounds like justice to me
Yea, if you’re Moses.
And even then only if we’re talking about the killing of a human being.
Larry
1, September 19, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Cro Magnum Man,
In regard to would we kill a human being over a cat. Most of us wouldn’t but we are not talking about a human being here, we are talking about a piece of excrement.
Yes, we are talking about a human being here.
Thats he’s not a very good human being is not in doubt. But human he is nonetheless.
Larry
1, September 19, 2008 at 3:38 pm
However, if some beast did this to my cat, I most certainly would kill them
You would “kill” them?
After the fact you’d “kill” them?
Thats called premeditated murder.
Over a cat.
I like cats too, but all this talk of murdering the guy makes me wonder if this isn’t where the republicans got the word “moonbat”.
They just must have misinterpreted the “b”.
I for oen would like to give this guy the same treatment he gave this poor, loving cat. I have 2 that I rescued and I beleieve that if you hurt an animal, a child or an elderly person that you arent worth the air they breathe. If he is so freakin tough and wanna hit soemone or soemthing, then come hit me cuz I promise you i’ll be th elast thing he hits. As a southern, I love my guns and the first time he hit me id turn him from a rooster to a hen with one shot. That’d be fair justice, then he wouldnt have to find some dumb bimbo to live with, no gal would want a guy whos missing his wedding tackle. Am I right?
RobbyScruggs
1, September 19, 2008 at 7:53 pm
As a southern, I love my guns and the first time he hit me id turn him from a rooster to a hen with one shot.
This is getting bizzare.
So as “a southern”, you’d bring a gun to a fist fight?
I hope he gets the max penalty…and even that wouldn’t be penalty enough. The courts and judges need to wake up and stop patronizing these actor and sports figures… talk about bad role models for our kids… It makes me sick that I live on the same planet with this ‘person’ that obviously has no soul.
This discussion has turned insane. I’ve been a cat owner for more than forty years, I have two now. Prior to that I always had dogs, as did my family. I love animals and I especially love cats and dogs. Also I agree with one writer’s sentiments that animals in general are more sentient than we humans give them credit for being.
All that being said the reactions of some of the posters that this jerk should be put to death reach a level of absurdity that is hard to stomach. Killing a cat, loathsome as that is, should not be a capital crime. Yet, there of course should be severe penalties for doing so. That he seems to have done this as a means of punishing his girlfriend should somehow add to the penalty. Killing him though, in whatever of the many forms herein suggested, is just plain dumb and betrays someone who’s own sense of reality is questionable. No, by the way, I wouldn’t want to kill someone who killed one of my cats, but I’d make damn sure that person was punished to the extent of criminal and civil law.
Rafflaw’s comment though, comparing the outrage over this story to the lack of attention to the cruelties initiated by an unnecessary and illegal war, bears repetition. To date the US has allowed over 4,000 of our troops to be killed, 25,000 severely maimed, killed at least 100,000 Iraqi’s, opted out of the Geneva Conventions, abrogated the right of habeas corpus and made torture a commonplace American tactic. Yet there would be more outrage by our citizens over the death of cats and dogs (see Michael Vick), than about these horrors inflicted upon another nation for no reason whatsoever. What has happened to our sense of values?
Mike Spindell said it right.
Spindell sums it up succinctly.VERY well said!
Now…On the subject of animal abuse….countless psych studies have CONCLUDED that humans who torture, kill, etc. helpless (domesticated) animals, are 100 times more likely to do the same to a human (especially a weaker Human…i.e., child, woman, so on)than those who strongly feel it is wrong.
Creatures like this waste-of-breath, Petcka, should be locked up and put into a heavy duty psych treatment program. He is one dangerous dude. Cannot believe so many fail to see that?
lol
I hope Hochbaum’s e-mail gets crashed so bad he has to open a new account. That is why I do not practice. Too many Hochbaum’s and not enough Turley’s to make a difference anymore. People like him help make the legal system as dysfunctional as it is. What he really meant was “he sleeps well at night knowing the check cleared the bank.”
Guys like Petcka are indeed more likely to kill a human. The first step serial killers often take is killing animals. Ask any psychiatrist who deals with dangerous socio-psychopaths. My friends at Menninger agree with me on this subject. He deserves court ordered treatment at a MINIMUM. If Hochbaum was interested in JUSTICE rather than billable hours, that’s what he’d have gotten too instead of bombarding the court with paper until he walked.
Thanks, bb.