Ten hunters were yesterday charged with being involved in an illegal protest held in Valletta on Sunday following the government’s decision to suspend the hunting season.
Two of them were also charged with assaulting a Times of Malta journalist and two cameramen, while three were accused of hurling stones and another two of the possession of a fake gun during the protest.
As the accused were led out of court, several people who were waiting on the street outside the building approached journalists, photographers and cameramen and shouted abuse and threats at them. One of them took off his shirt.
The police did not manage to prevent the incident and photographers, including one from this newspaper, were impeded from taking pictures at that point.
Sunday’s protest, which involved about 200 hunters, was sparked by the government’s decision following the killing of a number of protected species.
The protesters – many angered by what they call “collective punishment” – shouted obscenities at the government and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat as they walked through the streets of Valletta.
Later, two birdwatchers were injured in a clash with hunters in Buskett. One of them suffered facial injuries when he was assaulted, while the other was hit by a stone.
Yesterday, Christian Aquilina, 26, from Birkirkara, was the first to be arraigned for uploading a Facebook post before the protest. He pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit a crime, inciting others to break the law and inciting them to disrespect the Government of Malta. He was also charged with not informing the Police Commissioner about the protest.
Mr Aquilina asked for bail but the prosecution objected. His lawyer, Raphael Fenech Adami, said his client was not even present during the protest. All he did was post that there was going to be one.
He was contacted by the police who told him he needed a permit. He then uploaded another post saying the event was cancelled.
Magistrate Marseann Farrugia remanded Mr Aquilina in custody over the risk of tampering with evidence. She urged the prosecution to summon the witnesses to testify as soon as possible.
The other nine men were arraigned together. They were: 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.
All nine pleaded not guilty to a series of charges: conspiring to commit a crime, inciting others to break the law, insulting and shouting threatening words 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.
Arnold Farrugia and Gabriel Farrugia were also charged with the possession of the fake shotgun while committing a crime that threatened security. Gabriel Farrugia was charged with the possession of protected species and committing a crime while on probation.
These were serious offences which should never happen in a civilised society
Arnold Farrugia, Mr Grech and Mr Mizzi were charged with hurling stones. Mr Callus was charged with assaulting Times of Malta cameraman Mark Zammit Cordina and relapsing while Mr Spagnol was charged with assaulting Times of Malta journalist Ivan Martin and photographer Chris Sant Fournier.
Mr Camilleri was charged with committing a crime during the operative period of suspended jail term.
The accused made a request for bail. Lawyer Franco Debono, one of the army of lawyers in court, said if his clients were denied bail because of the fear of tampering with evidence, he would insist on the evidence being heard immediately.
Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo said that it would be impossible to summon all witnesses but, if the court insisted, he would.
These were serious offences that “should not happen in a civilised society”, he said. Such actions provoked fear in people.
At the end of the arraignments, which took four hours, Magistrate Farrugia turned down the request to hear the evidence yesterday.
She remanded the accused in custody due to the “real fear” they might tamper with evidence. As she had done with Mr Aquilina, she called on the prosecution to summon witnesses as soon as possible.
Dr Debono pointed out that the court had not given a date for the next sitting. The magistrate replied she had said all she needed to say in her ruling and the sitting was over.
Police Inspectors Daryl Borg, Jurgen Vella and Edel Mary Camilleri also prosecuted.