Four charged with shooting flamingo last year

Nearly a year after a flamingo was killed in Salina Bay, four men have been charged in court with involvement in the shooting of the protected bird in June last year.

The flamingo was shot as it roosted overnight at the Salina saltpans.

Edgar Attard, 49, of Naxxar, his son Justin, 25, his cousin Cliff Borg 31 of Mosta and Massimo Parnis, 22, of Sta Venera, were arrested 11 months ago in connection with the case after a white Mitsubishi Pajero car used by the alleged poachers to escape was found abandoned in Burmarrad.

In court today, they all pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit a crime in breach of hunting regulations. Justin Attard and Cliff Borg were accused of actually shooting and keeping the bird and keeping other protected birds. Both were also accused of relapsing.

The court was told that a resident of Salina alerted the police to suspicious activity in the area, with shots being heard. A white Pajero belonging to Justin Attard was seen being driven up and down the road

Court expert Dr. Marisa Cassar testified that a feather found in the Pajero belonging to Justin Attard and another found on the scene came from the same bird.

Stanley Gatt, an inspector at the Wild Birds Regulations Unit, testifying as a court-appointed expert, said he had examined traces of feathers found near the Pajero after the vehicle was found abandoned by the police near Wied Annotta. Some feathers were also found near a gate on the coast road. They all came from the same flamingo.

Searches were carried out in the houses of the accused and 11 protected stuffed birds were found, including one that was freshly stuffed. A photo of this bird was also found on the mobile phone belonging to Borg. The setting of the photo was Borg's kitchen. The case continues later this month.