Hunting supporters protesting in Valletta. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Tourists in St George’s Square during an illegal protest by angry hunters were told by one of them that Malta’s Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, was “a bull”, a court heard yesterday.

Police Inspector Darryl Borg told Magistrate Anthony Vella that he saw one of the accused, David Spagnol, making a gesture of horns on his head and told the tourists in English: “Our Prime Minister is a bull.”

Although according to Mr Spagnol’s lawyer his client can’t speak in English, Mr Borg said he was 100 per cent sure he had said that.

He added that he had seen and heard Mr Spagnol insulting Dr Muscat and the government and saw him involved in an argument with a Times of Malta journalist and cameraman.

The inspector said another accused, Simon Camilleri, was also involved in an argument with Times of Malta newsroom staff. He looked “agitated” and had to be held back by his friends, he said.

Mr Borg was testifying in the compilation of evidence against nine hunters who are pleading not guilty to conspiring to commit a crime, inciting others to break the law, insulting and shouting threatening words directed at the Prime Minister, forming part of an illegal protest during which they showed disrespect towards the government, making obscene gestures and breaching the peace.

He pushed a camera out of the way because it bothered him

The hunters are Alan Mizzi, 22, from Żebbuġ (Gozo); Oliver Borg, 42, from Marsascala; Krist Callus, 24, from Żurrieq; Brian Grech, 21, from Rabat; David Spagnol, 44, from Marsascala; Simon Camilleri, 26, from Żabbar; Arnold Farrugia, 21, from Dingli; Gabriel Farrugia, 19, from Mosta; and Josmar Buhagiar, 28, from Żabbar.

Among the charges, Mr Callus is accused of assaulting a Times of Malta cameraman and relapsing while Mr Spagnol was charged with assaulting one of the newspaper’s journalists and a photographer.

At the end of yesterday’s sitting, Magistrate Vella said there was enough prima facie evidence for a bill of indictment to be issued against the hunters.

Inspector Borg also gave details about what he saw each of the accused doing during the protest, including those who threw bottles at the Labour Party club in Republic Street and the person who pushed a camera out of the way because the cameraman had “bothered him filming him”. In the latter case, he identified Krist Callus. The case continues in December.