A 20-year-old from Gzira was yesterday accused of slightly injuring a police officer and resisting arrest after a hunting related incident in Salina.

Mauro Zammit pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring police constable Alfred Gauci through negligence yesterday at 6:45am.

He was also accused of threatening police officers, assaulting them, resisting arrest, disobeying police orders, breaching the peace and damaging police uniforms.

He was also accused of being in possession of a weapon in a bird sanctuary, being in possession of a hunting weapon during the period when hunting season is closed, firing off larger bore shot than is permitted, being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and relapsing. He was also accused of dangerous and negligent driving and speeding. He was also accused of using obscene language in public.

Presiding magistrate Silvio Meli had stern words for the accused, noting that he (the magistrate) seemed more concerned for the weeping mother of the accused than her son was.

He granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm1,000 and was ordered not to leave his house before 9am. Police inspector Alexander Miruzzi prosecuted while Dr Anglu Farrugia appeared for the accused.