A 28-year-old man was taken to court today, accused of shooting his friend through negiligence while hunting.

Darren Bonnici was aiming at a starling but shot his friend Kyle Gili in the head when the latter stood up in front of the gun, a court was told.

The two were hunting in Żabbar in an area known as Il-Foss.

Mr Bonnici is pleading not guilty to causing serious injury through negligence, illegally hunting in a sanctuary and being in possession of a firearm inside a sanctuary.

Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo and Police Inspector Fabian Fleri said that Mr Bonnici had just shot a common starling and the two men were resting behind a rubble wall.

Another bird flew over and Mr Bonnici grabbed a gun and fired at it. He followed the bird with his gun and as fired a second shot Mr Gili stood up and was hit in the head.

Mr Gili fell to the ground and at first Mr Debono thought that he was joking until he noted that he was bleeding and raised the alarm. Mr Gili was seriously injured but managed to pull through.

The two men were friends and had no prior disagreement.

Police Inspector Robert Said Sarreo prosecuted while lawyer Anġlu Farrugia appeared for Mr Debono.