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.
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.
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.
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.
LJM,
Stop considering the implications of blanket statements. Don’t you know this is the internet?
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?
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.
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.
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
Hey, a life for a life sounds like justice to me.
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?
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?
Pete, you are having a battle of wits, but you have come unarmed and in to the wrong side of town.
Good Luck
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.
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.
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.
You guys are nuts.
You’d KILL another human being because he killed a cat?
After the fact?
Joseph “Petkilla” Petcka oughtta pay the piper.
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
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 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.