A court has thrown out a libel case filed by the Hunting Federation (FKNK) and Kaccaturi San Umbertu (St Hubert Hunters Association) against a man who had allegedly posted a comment on the Times of Malta portal, for the simple reason that none of the parties were able to produce the comment in question.

The case dates back to December 2012, when Edward Camilleri had allegedly posted a comment under a letter to the editor titled 'Birdlife: More of the same' penned by the Kaccaturi San Umbertu President Mark Mifsud Bonnnici.

The complainants had instituted libel proceedings saying that Mr Camilleri's comments were defamatory.

However, Mr Camilleri, the complainants and not even Times of Malta were able to produce the comment at the heart of this controversy. The court presided by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale pointed out that the comment was nowhere to be seen in two copies of the letter in question exhibited by the hunters, which included the thread of all the comments posted with it.

It transpired that Mr Camilleri's comment only surfaced in documents presented by a Times of Malta representative. However, there was no indication when and where the comment had been posted and consequently such evidence was deemed as inconclusive by the court.

On his part Mr Camilleri had testified that his comment was not in reaction to Dr Mifsud Bonnici, but in reply to another comment within the same thread.
For this reason, the court, acquitted Mr Camilleri due to insufficient evidence.

Lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell was defence counsel.