The hunter who was last week was sentenced to a year in prison for shooting a kestrel has appealed his sentence and was this morning granted bail pending the hearing. 

Kirsten Mifsud, 24, from Cospicua, known as Il-Benghazi, was found guilty of shooting the protected bird on Monday. The injured bird landed in the schoolyard of St Edward's College while children were playing football. The incident led to the spring hunting season being closed three days early.

The hunter was also fined €5,000.

Mr Mifsud filed an appeal that automatically entitles him to bail pending the hearing of his appeal. 

In his decree granting him bail, Mr Justice David Scicluna noted that the Attorney General had no opposed to the granting of bail.

The bail conditions imposed include a deposit of €3,000 and a personal guarantee of €4,000. The court also ordered the accused to sign a bail book three times a week, be home between 10pm and 6am  and to stay away from an area in Zabbar known as Tal-Fata, where Monday's incident occurred. He was also ordered not to communicate with any of the witnesses in the case. 

Inspector Jurgen Vella prosecuted while lawyers Noel Bianco and Jason Grima appeared for Mr Mifsud.