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Plea Deal Possible In N.Y. Cat-Kill Case

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Oct 23, 2008 12:20 pm US/Central

Plea Deal Possible In N.Y. Cat-Kill Case

NEW YORK (AP) ― The lawyer for an actor and former minor league baseball player who killed his girlfriend's cat says he is trying to strike a plea deal with prosecutors so his client can avoid another trial.

Jurors deadlocked 11-1 last month after 37-year-old Joseph Petcka's trial on a charge of felony aggravated animal cruelty.

On Thursday, defense lawyer Charles Hochbaum told Manhattan Justice Michael Obus that he and prosecutors are "prepared to discuss resolving this case without the necessity of another trial."

Petcka testified that he didn't mean to hurt the 7-year-old, 8-pound tabby named Norman, but that he overreacted to the cat's biting him.

Prosecutors said he killed Norman in March 2007 in a drunken, jealous rage.

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