A hunter was cleared on Thursday of having shot a protected black stork after the prosecution withdrew charges.

Ryan Bonnici, 34 of Gżira, had been accused of shooting the bird at Żebbiegħ two years ago.

Police had found a loaded modified firearm hidden behind the back seat of his car in Għargħur.

Bonnici later pleaded not guilty to nine charges stemming from the incident.

Six of those charges were later withdrawn by the prosecution, with Bonnici only being accused of possession of an unlicensed Beretta shotgun, unauthorised modifications to the weapon, failing to properly store the weapon and not abiding by the licence conditions.

When delivering judgment, Magistrate Elaine Mercieca also cleared him of the remaining charges, observing that crucial evidence concerning the licence had not been produced by the prosecution.

Failing that, the court could not know whether or not the accused had any licences in terms of law and if so, in respect of which weapons.

As for failing to properly store the shotgun, the court observed that possession of that weapon could possibly have been illegal, depending on the relative licence, evidence of which was not produced.

However, the weapon had been found inside a hidden compartment in the car and in such a manner that it could not have ended up in someone else’s hands.

In light of all evidence put forward, none of the charges was proved and thus the court pronounced an acquittal.

Lawyers Edward Gatt and Ishmael Psaila were defence counsel.