Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1465136
NEWS 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 APRIL 2022 LAURA CALLEJA ANIMAL Welfare Commis- sioner Alison Bezzina has come out against hunting in what is a clear jab at Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said. Bezzina underscored her posi- tion against hunting in a Face- book post, saying the practice may be "legal" but not "ethical." The comment comes days after newly-appointed Parlia- mentary Secretary Alicia Buge- ja Said, who is responsible for animal rights, welcomed the news that a court allowed the spring hunting season to open as planned. "I am satisfied with the work done to safeguard the traditions that make us Maltese," Bugeja Said wrote in a Facebook post over the weekend that raised eyebrows among animal lovers. Bezzina said that as the Com- missioner for Animal Welfare, legal hunting was not within her remit, as it was not considered cruel according to the Animal Welfare Act. However, Bezzina said, per- sonally, there were only two scenarios when killing an ani- mal could be justified. "If the animal is in distress, and killing them is the merciful thing to do. If your life, safety or health is on the line and dependent on killing an animal," she said. This year's spring hunting sea- son for turtle doves and quails opened on Easter Sunday and will run until 30 April. The in- clusion of turtle dove effectively ended a moratorium on spring hunting for the species that was introduced in 2017 after the Eu- ropean Commissioner threat- ened legal action. The turtle dove is considered a vulnerable species. BirdLife Malta had criticised the decision to allow the hunt- ing of turtle dove and tried to stop the season in its tracks by asking the courts to issue an injunction. In a judgment deliv- ered last week, the court turned down BirdLife Malta's request and allowed the season to go ahead as planned. 'I will never condone hunting' Alison Bezzina takes jab at animal rights parliamentary secretary Animal Welfare Commissioner Alison Bezzina (left) says that hunting may be 'legal' but not 'ethical' in a jab at the new animal rights parliamentary secretary Alicia Bugeja Said (inset) MATTHEW AGIUS A court has declared closed the evidence stage of compilation pro- ceedings against the man accused of committing a double murder at a house in Sliema in 2020. Daniel Muka stands accused of the murders of Chris Pandolfino and Ivor Maciejovski, who were shot dead at their home in Lock- er Street on 18 August 2020, in what police described as a botched robbery. Another man, North Macedo- nian national Viktor Dragoman- ski, has been charged separately in connection with the murder, while a third man, Jesper Kris- tiansen, is also awaiting indict- ment for his part in the crime. When the case against Muka continued on Thursday before magistrate Nadine Lia, the ac- cused was assigned a temporary legal aid lawyer in view of on- going issues with his legal rep- resentation, as the case against him continued on Tuesday. The last sitting in the compi- lation of evidence had been ad- journed for a ruling by an ethics body, after the accused attempt- ed to engage a new lawyer with- out paying his previous one. But the issue was still unre- solved when the case was called on Tuesday morning. The magistrate ordered Muka to liaise with the Chamber of Advocates to resolve the pay- ment issue. The accused replied, asking the magistrate how he was supposed to contact the Chamber from prison, to which the court re- plied that this was a problem for him to solve, not the court. The case was adjourned to May 23. Superintendent James Grech is prosecuting. Daniel Muka stands accused of the murders of Chris Pandolfino and Ivor Maciejovski, who were shot dead at their home in Locker Street on 18 August 2020, in what police described as a botched robbery Sliema double murder: Evidence stage of compilation proceedings declared closed Chris Pandolfino and Ivor Maciejovski