Cat found 'crucified' in Mosta
The scene where the cat was found.
Another dead cat has been found crucified in Mosta.
The gruesome discovery was reported to the police at about 8 a.m.
The dead cat was found hanging on an upside down wooden cross fixed to a railing in front of the statue of St Joseph in Main Street. A note was pinned to it.
Five dead cats and dogs have been found crucified in Mosta since October 16, 2011 when a cat was found crucified on the door of the former residence of Franġisku Buhagiar, who had been accused in court of murdering his sister.
The last case was on February 10 this year when a cat was found crucified and hanging upside down from a cross in Baskal Buhagiar Street.
Another cat was discovered crucified in Mosta on January 17. It had been found hanging to the gate of a chapel in Triq San Anton Abbati.
On November 16 last year, a Chihuahua cross-breed was found crucified on the gates of the oratory of the Sacred Heart. A month earlier, on October 16, a priest walking along Main Street found a dead puppy nailed to an upside down wooden cross.
In both cases there was a note in which the perpetrator said the suffering he or she had gone through was worse than that of the dog.
The first incident had led investigators to follow a potential link with a 1999 murder since the house where that puppy was found was where Franġisku Buhagiar, now aged 81, had shot dead his sister following a bizarre argument over burnt toast.
Mr Buhagiar, who served a 10-year jail term, denied any connection to the incident.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
96 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Ruth Ferrito
Dec 17th 2012, 12:35
inflicting the pain and torture on an innocent victim is a very serious crime, can the media publish investigation reports to the previous cases? thanks.
fleur cilia buckett
Dec 17th 2012, 12:14
the protest for justice to be served for the animal abuse in mosta on the 29th dec at 10am in valletta has been cancelled!! I promise everyone IF the culprit is caught THEN I will organise a protest demanding the stiffest sentence ever handed down for animal cruelty! the 5th time this has happened -its unreal that NO EVIDENCE< TRAILS <or< CLUES!
Ruth Ferrito
Dec 17th 2012, 12:29
It is a pity that it has been cancelled, my comment was in fact that...how come no evidence was found, no prints, no witnesses....nothing? it angers me, reported in the media and nothing happens...no further reports on investigations..and up to my knowledge animal abuse is illegal so further investigation reports following these horrible acts need to be made public.
Ruth Ferrito
Dec 17th 2012, 08:45
What happened to the investigation from the other previous cases? no clues, no nothing? is it possible?
paul camilleri
Dec 17th 2012, 08:03
has the police considered liking this to the cats that go missing?
Ruth Ferrito
Dec 17th 2012, 12:25
good point
Simon Ciantar
Dec 17th 2012, 07:50
this is the work of Satanists , besides worrying about the animals involved we should also worry more about the increase of satinism on our island. Satanism is not a religion , it is averse of a religion as it worships all that is evil in the world , many yougsters are getting caught in this , the authorities should start looking into this more seriously...
fleur cilia buckett
Dec 16th 2012, 23:59
Join us on the 29th December at 10am bieb il belt to make out voices heard - WE WANT JUSTICE and this should be taken very seriously - the 5th animal to be killed and nothing is done?!
dawn wood
Dec 17th 2012, 07:47
i think they need to catch the S,O,A,B who did this before they can take action.
lee murphy
Dec 16th 2012, 21:44
im not a big cctv fan but id be willing to have it put up to catch these sick minded morons....
Paul Zammit
Dec 16th 2012, 21:39
attention is what this sicko is looking for. The media should quit reporting on these cases.
Jonathan Andrew Fanara
Dec 16th 2012, 21:31
Kif Tafu Imma Fic-cert Li Dawn Qed Isiru Min Bniedem Like I Mean Naf Li Ha Nghid Stupitagni U Li Ha TghiduLi Jiena Mignun Imma Ma Tidhirx Stramba Li Kollha Sehhew Il-Mosta? I mean Dan frangisku buhagiar vera li kien ghamel hekk imma ma nahsibx li ha jasal jerga jaghmel hekk ghax is-suspetti jaqghu fuqu kif ga waqghu propjament u vera li seta cahad u vera li seta gideb imma il puluzija tinduna il
Veronique Amato Gauci
Dec 16th 2012, 21:05
The work of a sick mind indeed - it seems there is a most cruel, evil and sad cretin running loose in the Mosta area and oh, how I hope this 'it' rots in hell big time.
Bronwyn Cini
Dec 16th 2012, 19:41
Wow... This should be taken seriously I am unaware of the full details of this case and the extent of how serious this is being taken but as a forensic psychologist this is a HUGE concern. I can only hope they find this individual before he/she turns to people or these innocent animals are tortured any further. Let us not forget this person is (in a unusual way by leavin notes) crying out for help
Asta Peterson
Dec 16th 2012, 18:57
I think some Locals (the Maltese) should first look into their backyard, not long ago most were Blaming a Chinese* man for cat cruility many restaurants suffered the abuse from many readers, now we read that possible(?) a local Maltese crucified yet another cat and by all account dogs as well, its seems that there is a big <> witch <> hunt for these animals and used as sacrifices. Disgusting.
Marianne Tabone
Dec 16th 2012, 20:55
I agree that the whole thing is disgusting! But do you know for certain that the perpetrator is a Maltese person?This, I think is the action of a mentally disturbed person! This does not mean that I condone his action. If or when the person is caught he/she will have to be dealt with accordingly ie if he is a criminal he/she should be sent to Corradino but if he is unwell he/she should be treated.
Jason Attard
Dec 16th 2012, 18:47
can, who made the investigations of the other killings, see if the breed of the animals is the same? so they can make a find out in the area or make some interogations to people who knows some one who have cats or dogs.
Rachel Borg
Dec 16th 2012, 18:36
I do hope that the police is doing everything to find this scum of the earth. You know a simple hidden camera would do it for god's sake. How long must this go on before we take some logical steps to find this less than human who has suffered so much, yeah poor him.
Evarist Saliba
Dec 16th 2012, 17:43
Could it be that a quilty conscience, is leading this perpetrator to express himself in this way? The quilt must be great, and of long-standing, to express itself in this gruesome way.
James Dewar
Dec 16th 2012, 21:09
Or herself?
Mr leo attard
Dec 16th 2012, 21:16
a guilty conscience does not express itself by sadistic torture...this is the work of either a nut case, somebody who thinks of it as a catch-me-if-you-can game, or to create some fear among the locals, ex there is some cult about... this is anything but the work of a guilty conscience
Mr clint catania
Dec 16th 2012, 17:33
I think this coward suffered a lot and wants to prove something but he can t manage to do better because he s weak as hell.Go and jump from somewhere and write a note and we ll be sorry for you.If you don t have the courage to do it i can help you out.
richard reece
Dec 16th 2012, 17:31
Surely some locals just do not know what day it is, i would have thought that Xmas comes first and then followed by Easter...Yeah. who ever the moron is got it all wrong for sure.
Anthony Paul Naudi
Dec 16th 2012, 17:08
Nispera li dan in-nofs ras jinqabad u nispera ukoll li jhallas qares ta'ghemilu . B'sahhtu mad dghajef dan il-bully
Victor Rodenas
Dec 16th 2012, 16:55
If these cases are not reported in the Press it will be better, that is what he wants, reports in the Press to push his point.
Ms Sylvia Zammit
Dec 16th 2012, 18:17
I agree. This monster is after fame the least said about him the better.
Ms maria bonnici
Dec 16th 2012, 16:32
what a shame........if the courts won t start giving harsh sentences....... immediately,,,, starting from the man in the circus that hit a dog yesterday........and finishing from everyone who commits evil crimes like these........then we have nothing left in this country....no wonder they are repeated over and over
Levi Grech
Dec 16th 2012, 16:26
As an animal lover especially cats, i hope and pray this monster gets caught and the authorities hang him up side down !
wendy Brincat
Dec 16th 2012, 15:44
It is well documented by psychologists that serial killers usually start with animals and progress to humans,so even if the relevent bodies of investigation place no value on animals they should sit up and take note to protect the public.As an avid animal lover myself I ponder who are the intelligents here ? It doest take Sherlock to watch a handfull of churches in Mosta on the 16 of everey month
Michael Zarb
Dec 16th 2012, 15:25
This should be taken seriously by the authorities (not saying it is not already so). It may be only a matter of time till this psychopath turns his attention further up the food chain.
Mr clint catania
Dec 16th 2012, 15:19
I think this coward suffered a lot and wants to prove something but he can t manage to do better because he s weak as hell.Go and jump from somewhere and write a note and we ll be sorry for you.If you don t have the courage to do it i can help you out.
twanny borg
Dec 16th 2012, 15:12
ghandu jsir ftehim bejn il-gurnalisti biex ma jirrapurtawx ahbarijiet ta' din il-kwalita'. il-pubblicita' tista' tkun li wiehed iwettaq dan l-att krudili u kodard.
Rosalind Agius
Dec 16th 2012, 15:02
A monster is running loose. Please Police, do catch him.
James Tyrrell
Dec 16th 2012, 14:50
The fact that these animals are being found crucified on an upside down cross usually on or close to a church would lead one to think that the person involved has an issue with the Catholic church in Mosta. Have the police considered the possibility that this person was sexually molested as a child by a member of the church and feels he was 'hung out to dry' by the church?
M Farrugia
Dec 16th 2012, 14:43
Dan killer zgur li ghandu bzonn ta ghajnuna mentali. Jista jkun li ghadu qed isofri minn xi avventura li gratlu, u sa issa ghadu kollox kontra tieghu.
keith perry
Dec 16th 2012, 14:23
A blanket ban on any further reporting of incidents of this nature is required.
If the person is rational he will then look for another way to make a statement. if that is what this idiot is trying to do..
If hes trying to draw attention to a particular act of the past he will have to come out of the twilight hes living in and do it another way, he will become more likely to be caught.
Mr B Busuttil
Dec 16th 2012, 14:21
fejnom il puluzija?? ma nahsibx li issa too much???
C Busuttil
Dec 16th 2012, 18:07
x'tista taghmel il-pulizija ? tpoggi pulizija fix point f'kull triq tal-Mosta !!!!
u fuq kollox anke jekk il-pulizija ssib dan l-individwu umbghad ikun hemm x'imhallef u jibghatu l-barra b'xi sentenza sospiza u lil haddiehor fuq affarijiet inqas grravi l-habs.
Ms Sandra Grech
Dec 16th 2012, 18:18
Exactly. This monster has been around now, and obviously started again as he has never been caught, don't even know if the police are working on it.....
sylvan borg
Dec 16th 2012, 14:08
This/These sick person/s want to play hard... well then i do too. I am offering 1,000 Euro bounty to anyone who provides conclusive evidence to the police for the arrest of this/these sick criminal/s. I would like to be contacted by Times of Malta to assistme in publishing this bounty as currently am not in country.
B Attard
Dec 16th 2012, 13:59
possiblli daqshekk difficli biex jinqabad dan/wn?
Christian Sciberras
Dec 16th 2012, 13:51
No cameras please! We don't want big brother watching!
Instead, let's try some good ol' occultism and witch hunting.
It's Maltese tradition anyway, I'm sure the Culture Minister AND Curia will approve.
M. Cardona
Dec 16th 2012, 13:45
Stop giving the perpetrator the satisfaction and he will stop. Publicity and notoriety from such incidents is what this deranged is after.
Rocco Camilleri
Dec 16th 2012, 20:02
Hundred percent correct Mr.Cardona.
martin chetcuti
Dec 16th 2012, 13:44
CCTVs will do the job since cowards have a way to hide...
Ronnie Callus
Dec 16th 2012, 13:27
The more fuss it is made the more difficult it would be to catch the culprit/s. If things are kept quite and eyes carefully opened the more the better to catch.
Bernice Vella
Dec 16th 2012, 13:21
Is NO ONE noticing the link in the dates? Most of the time it's always on the 16th or 17th!
Karl Consiglio
Dec 16th 2012, 13:08
What I fail to understand is the message, what does this person want?
Claire Busuttil
Dec 16th 2012, 13:07
KEMM XBAJT NISMA B KATTIVERJA....!!!!! DAWN MOSTRI...................MHUX NIES ZGUR>...............
META SE JINQABAD JEW JINQABDU????
Ivan Vassallo
Dec 16th 2012, 13:03
This deranged monster must be stopped. Can't the local council organize some sort of neighborhood watch?
fleur cilia buckett
Dec 16th 2012, 13:01
the 5th time!!
Robert R. Mifsud
Dec 16th 2012, 12:34
How can anybody be so cruel to such a defenceless creature.Shame
James Dewar
Dec 16th 2012, 12:27
Thoroughly evil, inadequate and possibly mentally deranged individual who presumably revels in the publicity following their vile act. Hopefully there will be mounting evidence that will assist in their detection and the Police will devote the necessary resources to the enquiry. Such a sick and evil individual should not be permitted to roam freely in society.
Juan Dingli
Dec 16th 2012, 12:13
Seriously? There was no CCTV camera close by or the surrounding areas? This is really easy to solve. The culprit does this on the 16th most of the times.
fleur cilia buckett
Dec 16th 2012, 13:00
my thoughts exactly !!
Doreen Camilleri
Dec 16th 2012, 12:12
Sincerely hope that the perpetrator will read this - I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO SUFFER no sympathy from me for what you are doing to these innocent and vulnerable beings. You are nothing more than a COWARD!
Andrew Terry Buttigieg
Dec 16th 2012, 13:02
Comments like this will invariably give pleasure to the perpetrator... this person is suffering, so you can either help them by giving them affection & attention they desperately need, or you can attack back with hate, hate is what they feel, it will feel like attention & it will reinforce their behavior. I do hope you value people more than animals... Yesterday a poor 20 little souls died....
D Borg
Dec 16th 2012, 13:36
AT Buttigieg...'I do hope you value people more than animals... '
it all depends what they (people / animals) do.
In this case i value the cat more than the 'person' who did this atrocity.
Francesca Saliba
Dec 16th 2012, 15:00
@ Andrew, he needs attention? really? I bet its all a sick joke for fame and a twisted soul story. But animals are still suffering because of this, the man/woman/ people must be caught, its a shame nothing has been solved yet.. its all a mystery and guesses. Where are the forensics on this one? where are the cameras? are the neighbors still keeping their mouth shut by not giving information??
Doreen Camilleri
Dec 16th 2012, 16:08
@A.T.Buttigieg - I value living beings be it humans or animals....makes no difference to me. Sorry i can not give attention, let alone love to such people......there is no need for reinforcement - positive or negative - let's just catch the perpetrator and lock him up.
Brian Xuereb
Dec 16th 2012, 16:14
@ Andrew: Value People more than animals? You don't know people... Some people are beyond recovery, help or sanity. This is one of them.
Naomi Attard Borg
Dec 16th 2012, 19:27
I would add that if he is suffering more than these animals and he can't handle the suffering anymore...he should either see a psychiatrist for help, inform the police about who is causing him the suffering, or else...do the same thing he does to these animals...and all his suffering will go!!
Joseph Cini
Dec 16th 2012, 11:50
WITH A SINCERE APPEAL I BEG THE POLICE TO DO THEIR VERY UTMOST TO CATCH THIS IDIOT. I AM SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO IT.
Tonio Bone
Dec 16th 2012, 11:27
Find the culprit and leave him hanging in the same place for a couple of weeks. Barbaric law for barbarians!
Robert Grixti
Dec 16th 2012, 11:23
in my opinion such "news" shouldn't be published, it only serves to promote and encourage the perpetrator/s
GL Calleja
Dec 16th 2012, 14:39
I agree because probably that is the kind of publicity this hateful person that did this is looking for. He is getting a lot of publicity and I do agree that the media keep incident like this at a very low key.
Mr R.E. Saliba
Dec 16th 2012, 15:28
Well yes, yet someone could come forward with information Robert.
Roxanne Ebejer
Dec 16th 2012, 11:22
Exactly Edward Camilleri.Frangisku Buhagiar knows who this person is since he is being blamed for all of this when he shot his own sister. I sujjest that Frangisku Buhagiar goes to his local police and files a report or starts and investigation, before more innocent animals are killed!
Marica Lewis
Dec 16th 2012, 11:00
What next, a child? This person needs help and needs to be dealt with accordingly, but once caught must not be let out in public. What is baffling is that no one knows. Quite astounding for a little island with inhabitants who love to gossip from sunrise until sundown. Shame on anyone who knows who this person is and is a coward in letting the authorities know.
Gerry Cowie
Dec 16th 2012, 10:58
Nobody should stand for this!
However, now stand by for some extremist animal lovers who will wish death on the person who did this! They will show how animals mean more to them than humans ever could. Never do you get such a lot of comments when the story is about people being mistreated! What nobody knows is whether the cat was already dead from natural causes before being put up like that.
James Dewar
Dec 16th 2012, 13:41
Gerry, nature of victim apart, a person capable of such an attrocity needs to be caught and dealt with as a matter of urgency. Who knows, the next victim may be human.
Edward Camilleri
Dec 16th 2012, 10:51
It would be much better for everyone if this "suffering" person, goes to the police and seeks justice, instead of killing innocent creatures. Otherwise you are doing to others what you are alleging that others did to you. Why?
Naomi Attard Borg
Dec 16th 2012, 11:57
Very well said!! Another interesting point is that 5 cats and two dogs have been crucified so far. What are the police doing about this? What investigation are they undertaking?? Forensic Unit seems to be lacking efficiency!!
Andrew Terry Buttigieg
Dec 16th 2012, 13:11
@Naomi Attard Borg
The Forensic Unit is used for investigatng murder.. especially last week 2 men killed. If resources are wasted on this cause... well then we have very skewed moral priorities... Valuing Animals more than People.
Josianne Williams
Dec 16th 2012, 14:13
Dear Mr. Andrew Terry Buttigieg,
Every serial killer in the history of mankind started by torturing innocent animals before moving on to human victims, I therefore do NOT think the forensics team would be wasted on investigating the matter further. This
person is obviously deranged and Lord only knows what he is capable of.
Doreen Camilleri
Dec 16th 2012, 16:14
@ A.T. Buttigieg. And why should we value people over animals? Nothing to do with 'skewed moral priorities'!! In any case a person that is cruel to animals is already showing a personality disorder....and therefore will have no qualms in committing other crimes too - even to people - and that, i imagine, would then benefit your concern.
Charles Micallef
Dec 16th 2012, 10:49
Wish someone will catch this madman and take the appropriate action, do to him what he does to the poor animals!
Nadya Cassar
Dec 16th 2012, 13:57
I totally agree with you !!
Peter Murray
Dec 16th 2012, 10:48
Cant blame the Chinese for this one and the devil is amongst us
shara Gauci
Dec 16th 2012, 10:45
Sure he is a sick B
j brincat
Dec 16th 2012, 10:38
How bizarre!
(jb)
Victor Pulis
Dec 16th 2012, 10:30
This thing says that it is suffering. Long may it suffer and may the suffering finally kills it in the most painful manner.I refrain from addressing it as a he or a she.
adrian agius
Dec 16th 2012, 10:30
this wierdo surely likes number 16 !!!
I Bugeja
Dec 16th 2012, 10:29
They crucify the cats in the very early hours of the day when its dark and no one sees him/her/them but it will not be long before a cctv video clip will start circulating on facebook.
If these are kids they should still be made accountable for what they are doing.
Karl Consiglio
Dec 16th 2012, 10:26
Need a CCTV!
Joseph Camilleri
Dec 16th 2012, 10:22
Why are these being reported?! The person who is doing this, simply wants attention!! Stop reporting such incidents... by doing so, you will make a STOP to all this!
J Grima
Dec 16th 2012, 11:09
That's perfectly correct. It's out of topic BUT an American psychologist has been begging for all the US news companies to stop reporting on massacres at schools cause all they're doing is glorifying them and within 6 months, another 2 accidents happen. Apparently if the news company makes the story sound boring, it reduces the chance of a similar incident happening..
Richard Chetcuti
Dec 16th 2012, 10:22
Poor cat. These people should be found and be arrest for the whole life
Giov DeMartino
Dec 16th 2012, 10:25
U x'arrested hu! Insallbuhom ezatt bhalma ghamlu huma. Insallbuhom u npogguhom f'nofs il-pjazza tal-Mosta.
Mr Ben Cassar
Dec 16th 2012, 10:33
Wishful thinking Richard, we have human murderers running in our streets on bail ( refer to this weeks murders), and you are asking for a cat murderer to be put in prison for life.... Hail to our judicial system :s
Giov DeMartino
Dec 16th 2012, 11:13
@ Ben Cassar: you mentioned our judical system. Do YOU know who the murderers are?
Paul Caruana
Dec 16th 2012, 10:18
Probably not a good idea to keep on publicizing these events: it is just what the deranged individual(s) who is/are perpetuating these events want(s).
Stefan Limongello
Dec 16th 2012, 10:15
If I recall correctly, the first cases involved dogs. Something weird is definitely on in Mosta.
anthony sultana
Dec 16th 2012, 10:15
This person or persons want to tell us someting, it looks like the holidays season are making him sad.
George Lewis
Dec 16th 2012, 10:08
And you are seriously writing this and no one knows who is doing it. The person doing this needs to be found.
Levi Grech
Dec 16th 2012, 16:29
Most definitely they need to be brought to justice, especially if they are devil worshippers !
Please choose the reason of your report below: