Hunter gets suspended sentence, informant granted bail

Joseph Camilleri, 55 of Zebbug, was granted bail after pleading not guilty to conspiring with another man to commit illegal hunting at Qajjenza, B’Bugia on Monday.

Prosecuting officer Jurgen Vella told the court that having seen four Black Winged Stilt (Fra Servjent), a protected bird species, in the area known as il-Qajjenza, the accused informed a friend of his and urged him to go hunting for the wild species, knowing the hunting season was closed.

Camilleri pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €3,000. Lawyer Joseph Sammut appeared on his behalf.

After being informed that four Black Winged Stilt were at il-Qajjenza, Lee Grima, 24, also of Zebbug hunted down and shot the wild birds. However he was apprehended by the police and was charged with shooting and killing of a protected bird. He was also charged of carrying a loaded shotgun in an area where hunting is not allowed and within 200 metres from an inhabited area and hunting during the closed season.

Yesterday evening, in a late court hearing, Grima admitted to the charges and was handed a three-month jail term suspended for a year, fined €1,000, had his shotgun was confiscated and his licence was suspended for two years.

Dr Chris Cilia represented the accused.