Almost 800 animals on a farm have died because the authorities would not allow the farmer, currently in custody over drug trafficking charges, to take care of them, his lawyers argued yesterday.

In a second judicial protest filed over the matter, Angelo Bilocca, 34, from Siġġiewi said that following the death of 280 chickens, three pigs and 17 rabbits, 480 cocks have now died too.

Defence lawyers José Herrera and Veronique Dalli said that after their client was charged with conspiracy to traffic drugs and was remanded in custody on October 5, the magistrate had recommended that he be accompanied by police officers to his two farms to take care of the animals.

So far this has not been done, resulting in the deaths. The lawyers said they were holding the prisons director responsible for damages.

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