A man who 10 years ago was fined €500 for gunning down mute swans was among the hunters arraigned on Tuesday over last Sunday’s unofficial protest in Valletta.

David Spagnol had also been disqualified from holding a hunting licence for five years following the incident which took place in St Thomas Bay, on January 20, 2002. The swans were shot from hunters on a speedboat, causing outrage.

Three men pleaded guilty in a trial in 2004. Two were jailed but Mr Spagnol had escaped imprisonment.

Last Tuesday he was one of the men charged with assaulting a Times of Malta reporter and a photographer during the protest.He pleaded not guilty.

More on Times of Malta.

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