An Appeals Court yesterday reduced a fine imposed on a man found guilty of felling 13 trees in a villa in Marsaxlokk in 2004. The fine was reduced from Lm6,500 to Lm1,400.

Mark Sapiano, 51, from Sliema, had been found guilty of cutting down 12 pine trees and one tamarisk and fined Lm6,500.

He appealed against the decision, claiming that the evidence brought against him was not sufficient to prove his guilt. However, the Appeals Court, presided over by Mr Justice David Scicluna, said that the evidence submitted was enough to prove that the trees had actually been felled and that Mr Sapiano, who was not in possession of a permit for this, was responsible.

Mr Justice Scicluna ruled that none of the prosecution’s witnesses had testified to confirm that the trees that were felled were more than 10 years old. If they had been older than ten years, the fine would have been heavier. In absence of such a declaration, he said, the court had to consider the trees as being no older than 10 years.

In view of this, he reduced the fine from Lm6,500 to Lm1,400.

Dr Michael Schiriha and Dr Ian Farrugia appeared for the defendant.