Julian Tanti, 26 of St Julians, today was given a three-month suspended prison sentence, fined €5,000 and was barred for the rest of his life from having a weapon in his possession after he was found guilty of killing a stork.

The incident happened on Tuesday and the man was arrested by chance after a police inspector happened to be taking pictures of birds flying over the area, near the elderly residence St Vincent de Paul.

At one point in time, the police inspector noticed that a bird had been shot down. The inspector chased the hunter and arrested him.