Animal Cruelty Case May go to Retrial

Joseph Petcka, a former Mets minor league pitcher, may be retried in an aggravated animal cruelty case in which he would be re-charged with killing his former girlfriend's cat, Norman.

The first trial ended after five days of jury deliberation with an 11-1 deadlocked jury on Friday September 26, 2008. Currently, New York City prosecutors are deciding whether or not to pursue a retrial.

In addition to playing for the Mets for a short time, Petcka also enjoyed a limited acting career that included roles in "Sex in the City," a paper towel commercial and various television programs. Recently, however, Petcka made his living by bartending and serving tables.

Details of the Trial

The controversial issue of this animal cruelty case is whether or not Petcka intended to torture the cat with the purpose of killing or injuring it.

According to New York prosecutors, led by Leila Kermani, Petcka was upset that his girlfriend Lisa Altobelli loved her cat more than him. After getting into a heated argument with Altobelli, Petcka then sadistically killed the declawed, neutered cat in a jealous, drunken rage.

Altobelli wasn't a witness to the incident, as she had left the apartment after the fight. She returned home hours later to find Petcka gone and Norman dead. Alternately, the defense, led by attorney Charles Hochbaum, argues that Petcka was defending himself, as the cat had bitten him and then lunged at him with bared teeth.

For animal cruelty to apply, the prosecution must prove that the act of cruelty was not out of defense but, instead, out of malice and the desire to kill the animal. If retried and convicted of aggravated animal cruelty, Petcka may face as much as two years in prison.

(Source: CNN News)

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