The woman accused of running over and killing a dog that was sleeping on the road in the village of Avliotes, on the Greek island of Corfu, appeared before a prosecutor today.

The 44-year-old driver was taken before the prosecutor over the killing of a dog, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage and revulsion after footage of it circulated online.

“I never wanted to hit the animal,” the 44-year-old is reported to have told the prosecutor, according to Greek broadcaster SKAI. The statutory fines have already been imposed on her, while North Corfu Police Station has compiled a case file against her.

The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday 22 August on a narrow street in the village.

Footage shared on social media shows the vehicle approaching the dog, initially slowing down before driving over the animal. The car then stops briefly before driving away, while the dog, severely injured, dies a few seconds later.

What penalties does the law provide

It should be noted that the current legal framework governing the intentional killing of an animal is particularly strict. Law 4830/2021, Greece’s animal welfare and protection legislation, explicitly classifies deliberate crushing, shooting, poisoning and other acts causing death or serious physical harm as the murder or torture of animals, among other offences.

If the prosecutorial and investigative inquiry establishes that the dog’s death was intentional and the act falls under Article 24, paragraph 1(b), of the law, it will be classed as a felony.

Specifically, Article 34 of Law 4830/2021 provides for a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to 500 daily units, each set at between 50 and 100 euros, for the murder or torture of an animal. The criminal fine can therefore reach as much as 50,000 euros.

Alongside the criminal proceedings, an administrative fine of between 30,000 and 50,000 euros per animal, per incident, is also provided for in cases of murder or torture. The level of the administrative penalty is set out in the Ministry of Interior’s current table of fines.