Two young hunters were yesterday remanded in custody after being accused of shooting a protected bird from a car with concealed number plates.

During the arraignment George Gatt, 21, of Mosta, was charged with shooting the black-winged stilt in Xatt il-Pwales, Xemxija, on Wednesday, being in possession of a protected bird, carrying a firearm not in accordance with licence conditions, firing the weapon less than 200 metres from an inhabited area and concealing his vehicle’s number plates.

Dominic Borg, 24, from Mosta, was charged with assisting Mr Gatt to commit the crime, carrying the gun, and relapsing. Both pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona remanded them in custody.

Their arraignment follows that of Joseph Camilleri, 55, of Żebbuġ, who, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to assisting Lee Grima, 24, shoot a black-winged stilt on Monday at about 12.30pm in Qajjenza, limits of Birżebbuġa.

On Tuesday, Mr Grima pleaded guilty to killing the bird and carrying a loaded shotgun during the closed season and in an area where hunting was not permitted.

He was jailed for three months, suspended for a year, and fined €1,000.

His hunting licence was suspended for two years and his gun confiscated.

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