A hunter who shot a racing pigeon has had his fine reduced to €200 on appeal.

The accused, Paul Micallef, pleaded that the incident was not deliberate and he thought he had shot at a Turtle Dove.

The incident happened in January last year.

The racing pigeon was one of several let off from L-Ahrax in Mellieha by Victor Agius and Daniel Spiteri.

Mr Agius had heard shots and reported Mr Micallef to the police. He claimed that the pigeon was worth between €7,500 and €10,000.

The first court had fined Mr Micallef €1,000.

The Appeals Court said it did not appear that the shooting down of the pigeon was deliberate and there was no independent estimate of the value of the pigeon. 

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