Lengthy Island mother calls for tried homicide costs for her canines
A Lengthy Island canine proprietor whose two pups fatally burned in a blaze allegedly set by her neighbor is looking for costs to be upgraded to tried homicide — with one state lawmaker trying to throw the e book at pet killers.
Ariana Belfort, 38, stood outdoors Nassau County Court docket Monday barking for justice for Jameson and Jack, her two canines brutally murdered in an arson began by her downstairs neighbor, Jahan Kia.
Belfort was joined by buddies, animal rights activists and state Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, with many adorning indicators and t-shirts that learn “Justice for Jameson and Jack.”
The lawmaker not solely backed Belfort’s calls so as to add tried homicide and two animal cruelty costs to Kia’s rap sheet, however introduced he could be introducing a statewide invoice that may make murdering animals a felony that would carry a life sentence.
“[Kia] shouldn’t be in additional bother for destroying drywall than he’s for killing a cherished one,” Blumencranz, an Oyster Bay Republican, advised The Publish. “Actual human and animal lives have been destroyed.
“Now we want to verify we see justice for everybody concerned.”
The Animal Justice Act would make murdering man’s greatest buddy, or any animal, a Class A felony that would deliver with it 25 years to life in jail — laws that Belfort, a mom of three, wholeheartedly helps.
“If somebody is able to murdering an animal, they’re actually able to murdering a human,” she mentioned, including that killing pets is how most serial killers begin their murderous tendencies.
In Could, Kia, 40, was arrested for allegedly setting the Plainview house — he lived in an unlawful basement residence — on fireplace killing Belfort’s two canines and at the least considered one of his personal cats.
The blaze took 100 firefighters from six departments to get beneath management. Kia was charged with arson, prison mischief and only one depend of animal cruelty — regardless of allegedly killing three animals.
“He’s nonetheless strolling free,” Belfort mentioned outdoors the court docket the place Kia was scheduled to seem that morning.
“He admitted he set the hearth on the home, he admitted he did it on goal, and he admitted he thought we have been inside on the time he began the hearth.”
Belfort claimed Kia, who she barley knew, has proven no regret. She additionally shared a latest Fb submit by Kia that confirmed a cat laying on prime of a pair of brass knuckles, that are unlawful in New York state.
In late June, the Nassau Legislature voted to develop the county’s 2014 animal-abuse regulation to make it a misdemeanor for anybody who harms a pet, doubling time on the registry and upping punishments to potential jail time and a $1,000 high quality for abusers.
And following Monday’s rally on the courthouse, Nassau DA Anne Donnelly advised The Publish she is contemplating tacking on further costs.
“This was a stunning, mindless act, and my workplace is contemplating upgrading the costs on this matter,” Donnelly mentioned in a press release. “It’s endlessly irritating that defendants who commit arson or kill harmless animals can stroll free with out my prosecutors ever having the chance to ask for bail.
“I’m dedicated to holding defendants accountable for crimes in opposition to harmless, defenseless animals.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s workplace didn’t reply to The Publish’s request for touch upon Blumencranz’s proposal laws.
