A man was today awarded over €65,000 in compensation after he suffered an injury to his eye in a hunting accident.

Bryan Theuma lodged his writ in the First Hall of the Civil Court against Adrian Spiteri and against Adrian's parents Anthony and Maria Concetta spouses Spiteri.

Mr Thuema told the court that on September 19, 2003 he was hunting at St Thomas' Bay, Marsascala when he was shot in the face by Adrian Spiteri. He suffered a perforation to his right eye. Two other witnesses confirmed that it was Mr Spiteri who had shot Mr Theuma. Mr Spiteri had also admitted to having shot the gun.

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco found that Mr Spiteri had admitted to having taken his father's dismantled shotgun from on top of a wardrobe. He was not licenced to shot a gun at that time. Mr Spiteri had loaded the gun and had gone to shoot woodpigeon (gamiema).

There was no doubt, said the court, that there was a connection between Mr Spiteri firing a shotgun and Mr Theuma's injury. Mr Spiteri had not been careful when he took his father's shotgun. A firearm was an intrinsically dangerous item and it was a basic principle in hunting that the shotgun must never be aimed or fired towards the ground where other hunters might be present.

The court ordered defendants to pay Mr Theuma €65,325.59 in damages

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