Prison sentence for defendant who kicked cat and threw it from the fourth floor

The hearing at the Küçükçekmece 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance was attended by the cat's owner, complainant Fatma Aydın, the defendant Elanur Pilici, lawyers for both parties, and lawyers from the Istanbul Bar Association Animal Rights Center.

In her defense during the hearing, defendant Elanur Pilici claimed that she only kicked the cat, did not throw it out of the window, and that the animal fell on its own.

Stating that she feeds the dogs located on the side of the apartment building, defendant Pilici said, "I am more of an animal lover than they are. I will continue to love them. I had psychological problems at the time of the incident. I am sorry for what I did. It is the first animal I have ever hit in my life."

Announcing its verdict, the court sentenced the defendant to 1 year and 6 months in prison for the crime of "attempting to kill a domestic or pet animal," without applying any discretionary reduction.

Following the announcement of the verdict, an animal rights activist fainted in front of the courtroom.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

The indictment prepared by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that an investigation was launched after complainant Fatma Aydın filed a complaint, alleging that her cat named "Şirine" was kicked by defendant Elanur Pilici on August 15, 2023, and thrown out of a fourth-floor window.

In the indictment, which included her statement, defendant Pilici argued that she was angry at the cat but did not engage in kicking or throwing it out of the window, while witness İlayda Argun explained that Fatma Aydın had come to the house where she was a guest on the day of the incident with her cat Şirine, and that the cat remained with them after Aydın left.

Stating that while the cat was with them, it passed from the balcony to the defendant's balcony and knocked over flower pots, Argun testified, "We learned that the cat had knocked over the pots when the defendant knocked on our door and shouted at us in the morning. While we were talking, the cat moved toward Aydın's apartment, which is its own home. When the defendant noticed the cat, she started kicking it on the ground. I ran and intervened; the cat hid in the gap in the meantime. The defendant got past me, caught the cat she was chasing, and threw it down from the 4th floor."

Witness Argun stated that they took the cat to the veterinarian after the incident and that it suffered internal bleeding as a result of the fall from a height.

The indictment, which noted that the defendant committed the crimes charged against her based on witness testimony and an expert report, requested that Pilici be sentenced to 6 months to 3 years in prison for the crime of "torturing or treating a domestic or pet animal in a cruel and merciless manner."

In the security camera footage for which an expert report was prepared regarding the moments of the incident, it was seen that the defendant rang the doorbell of an apartment and kicked the cat that came out from inside when the door was opened.

News Source: AA