PETITION

sign the petition

To
Mr. Head Prosecutor of Crete

NOTIFICATION
Mr. Kastanidis, Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights

Subject: OPEN LETTER - PROTEST

Crete, 9th November 2010


On Friday 5th November 2010 a heinous crime was committed in Elounda, Crete, against a shepherd dog, who was wildly abused by his owner. Specifically, his eyes were extracted with the use of a pointed object. The poor animal was transferred immediately to a veterinarian, who unfortunately had to put it down due to the dog’s irreversible health. According to the veterinarian’s relevant opinion, Dr. John Sfakianakis, who addressed the incident, the perpetrator abused the dog in the eyes and head, using his bear hands.

As soon as the lawsuit was filed against the specific person by a witness at the police station of Elounda, the police doing their job perfectly well arrested the offender and sheep owner.

Much to everyone's surprise, the district attorney, in spite of the peculiarity of the incident and the savagery of the crime, let the offender go without setting a date for a hearing, violating thus the procedural rules.

We would like to inform you that the alleged offender, as soon as he went back to his sheep, brought a new small animal, which he also tied like the one before it, as if nothing had happened. We are wondering what if tomorrow the same sheep owner did the same to one of his children?

We are also wondering whether or not the district attorney did the same if the crime was committed against a human. We have every reason to believe that the district attorney let the offender go because this heinous and barbaric abuse and death was against an animal.

Lawyers, journalists and animal welfare groups, all believe that the decision of the district attorney circumvented any aspect of legitimacy and justice, since she did not comply with the current legislation (Laws 1197/81 and 3170/2003).

The terrible and tragic living conditions of the stray animals and pets in Greece, the daily hundreds upon hundreds of poisonings, the barbaric abuse of thousands of animals, squashed on the Greek roads or thrown away alive into the garbage bins, etc are all well-known to everyone.

BECAUSE we strongly believe that the district attorney’s attitude is totally unacceptable and unfair.

BECAUSE, if anything, the district attorney should condemn the crime for pure ethical reasons and decide to set a trial date.

BECAUSE, the district attorney by the power vested in her should implement the state institutions against the culture of violence which thrives throughout the island.

BECAUSE the district attorney without even hearing the heinous crime which was brought before her, placed the prosecutor in a diminished position in relation to the european citizens of the other member states.

For all the above reasons:

We urge you as a superior authority to intervene promptly in order to implement the existing legislation so that the perpetrator of such an attrocious crime does not remain unpunished, show sensitivity on this subject, and take the necessary steps to ensure the immediate implementation of the provisions of the relevant legislation.

Sincerely,

The Pan-Hellenic Coordinating Committee of Welfare Societies
of 100 animal welfare groups

Contact Details:

Anastasia Bompolaki
lawer


NOTIFICATION
Maria Politakis
District Attorney of the Magistrates' Court in Lassithi Crete