Raymond Bajada, a 51-year-old resident of Sannat, was granted bail on Tuesday evening after entering a plea of not guilty to charges of animal cruelty. Bajada stood before the Magistrates’ Courts in Gozo for an arraignment related to an incident that occurred at a farm in Gozo on Monday.
Police had been alerted to a suspected shooting and arrived at the farm on Triq l-Għaxra ta’ Ottubru, 1942. Upon their arrival, they discovered two fox terriers that had been fatally shot. The disturbing image of the deceased dogs was shared on social media by MEP candidate Arnold Cassola on Monday evening.
During the arraignment on Tuesday, the court learned that one of the dogs had been shot once, while the other had been shot twice at approximately 5:40 PM. The suspect, Raymond Bajada, allegedly drove to the farm in a truck.
Bajada was charged with animal cruelty, as well as with failing to inform the police authorities after obtaining a weapon without a license and possessing it. However, his defence lawyer, Franco Debono, argued that his client denied the charges. Debono also pointed out that any civilian witnesses should have been present to testify during the arraignment, as is customary when a witness is expected to leave the country before further proceedings take place.
The defence lawyer further emphasised that there was no risk of tampering with evidence in this case. He assured the court that his client would comply with any conditions imposed by the court. After considering the submissions, Magistrate Simone Grech granted bail on the condition that Bajada pay a deposit of €2,000, provide a personal guarantee of €10,000, and sign the bail book three times weekly.
Inspector Bernard Charles Spiteri served as the prosecutor in the case.
It is important to note that the granting of bail does not imply innocence or guilt. The case will proceed as scheduled, allowing both the prosecution and the defence to present their evidence and arguments before a final verdict is reached.
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