Malta: Unlicensed hunter jailed for 20 months after injuring fellow hunter

Unlicensed hunter jailed for 20 months after injuring fellow hunter – Newsbook

09/11/2024

A 36-year-old man was sentenced to 20 months in prison and fined €7,000 for a tragic hunting incident in Żabbar that injured a fellow hunter.

Simon Camilleri, a public cleansing worker, sobbed as he admitted his role in the shooting accident that occurred while he was out snail-picking with his father on Monday morning.

Camilleri spotted a turtle dove in the fields of Triq Anard and immediately grabbed his father’s shotgun to fire at it. Unbeknownst to him, another hunter was nearby, and the pellets from his shot injured the victim slightly.

Camilleri repeatedly apologised in court for his actions, claiming that he had no intention of causing harm to anyone. His lawyer, Yanika Barbara Sant, emphasised that her client thought he was alone in the field and had acted rashly, resulting in a tragic chain of events.

Camilleri was charged with a number of offences in court, including hunting without a valid licence, illegal possession of a firearm, and causing injury through negligence.

The case also revealed Camilleri’s history of illegal hunting activities. He was banned from hunting for life in 2013, and by 2020, he had already been fined significantly for hunting during a closed season. Despite his prior convictions, the court noted Camilleri’s full cooperation with authorities during the investigation and genuine remorse for his actions.

The prosecution acknowledged Camilleri’s cooperation while emphasising his previous criminal record, indicating that this was not an isolated incident. Despite this, the prosecution did not seek the harshest punishment, allowing for a more lenient sentence.

Camilleri’s grief was palpable in the courtroom, as he sobbed repeatedly, pleading with the magistrate for mercy. His elderly mother, who was present in court, defended him, noting that her son had also been injured by the other hunter during the incident.

In his defence, Camilleri claimed that he had no intention of hunting that morning and was simply out with his father picking snails. However, when he saw the turtle dove, he acted without thinking, resulting in the tragic shooting.

His lawyer insisted that the shotgun belonged to Camilleri’s father and that the incident was completely unplanned. Camilleri’s emotional state throughout the hearing reflected his deep regret, which was exacerbated by his concern about missing his sister’s upcoming wedding due to his imprisonment.

Magistrate Lara Lanfranco, who presided over the case, ultimately sentenced Camilleri to 20 months of effective imprisonment and imposed a €7,000 fine, which he could pay in monthly installments.

The court also ordered the confiscation of the shotgun and a two-year restraining order against Camilleri, prohibiting him from contacting the victim.

Camilleri, though visibly shaken by the sentence, appeared to accept his fate, expressing a final wish for rehabilitation options for hunting addiction before being led out of the courtroom.