Hunter jailed for shooting protected birds despite lifelong hunting ban
He threw his gun away and tried to flee, injuring a policeman
A hunter who was the subject of a lifelong hunting ban six years ago was jailed for three years on Sunday after he admitted shooting at protected birds and trying to flee during his arrest, injuring a police sergeant.
The incident happened on Saturday between Marsascala and Żabbar.
Simon Camilleri was charged with illegal hunting, possession of a weapon without a licence and slightly injuring a police officer.
Inspector Elliot Magro told the court that BirdLife Malta had filed a police report on Saturday about a man wearing a face covering, shooting at protected birds in an area between Marsascala and Żabbar.
When two police officers started to approach the man, he threw his gun across a field and tried to run away.
The officers eventually caught up with him and managed to arrest him. He again tried to flee, causing one of the police officers to slip down a ramp, resulting in light injuries.
Later, police discovered that the man did not hold a valid hunting or weapons licence, and the gun’s serial number had also been removed. He was subject to a lifelong ban on hunting in 2020.
Camilleri admitted the charges.
His lawyer described him as being totally absorbed by his hobby, to the point of being “sick” by it.
She said her client had no intention of injuring the police officers and only caused a light injury by accident in a moment of panic. He gave up his weapon immediately and didn’t resist arrest.
The prosecuting inspector clarified that he threw the weapon to another part of the field.
Camilleri was jailed for three years and fined €8,000. His weapon was confiscated.