Birdlife Malta has said that the two men who assaulted two BirdLife Malta Spring Watch volunteers on the 18th of April in Dingli were today convicted by the courts after they pleaded guilty to breaching the public peace, threatening both BirdLife volunteers, assaulting both volunteers and slightly injuring one of them.

“On the 18th of April a BirdLife Malta Spring Watch team heard shots coming from an area in Dingli. Two volunteers walked up a country lane to gain a better vantage point when a van drove along the track; two men got out and immediately attacked them without warning.”

They said that the incident was caught on camera by one of the volunteers however the camera was dropped while he was attacked, and it was taken by the aggressor. The camera was later handed to the police by the aggressors, with the footage evidence of the attack deleted. Through O&O Media Recovery software the deleted footage was recovered by BirdLife. This footage was handed over to the police as evidence.

“The video evidence clearly shows that the volunteers were attacked by the aggressors while walking on a country lane. The camera remained recording after being taken by the aggressors and records mention of them hiding a shotgun. The camera also recorded the aggressors saying they would file a police report accusing the volunteers of trespassing over agricultural fields.”

Birdlife went on to say that on the 22nd April 2010 the aggressors filed a judicial protest accusing the volunteers of trespassing, breaching the peace and assault. However at court today the two aggressors failed to provide any evidence to support the charges against the volunteers. The charges were therefore dropped.

After pleading guilty today, the aggressors were fined €80, conditionally discharged and held by a personal guarantee of €233 not to approach or molest both the volunteers for 12 months.

This is the first time in three years of attacks against BirdLife Malta where the aggressors have been convicted.

Footage released by BirdLife may be seen on www.birdlifemalta.org.

The footage was passed on to the police to assist them in their investigations. Footage released by BirdLife may be seen on www.birdlifemalta.org

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