Come on, you’re pushing it a bit. Animal cruelty was obviously involved here; if you’re comfortable nailing a dead dog or cat to a cross, you’d definitely be comfortable doing a lot more to it.

[Daphne – A total non sequitur. Charges of animal cruelty apply to something one has done already, and not something one might do. ‘Something one might do’ comes into play only with that part of our law which permits the sectioning of an individual under mental health provisions, to prevent him causing harm to himself or others. It may come as a surprise to you that no particular character traits are required for nailing a dead cat to a bit of wood. By your definition, all butchers should be arrested as potential murderers.]

I agree some are being melodramatic about it, but it is worrisome that there’s an individual who is hiring others to kill and dump animals. Whatever else he’s capable of is obviously far more serious but people can legitimately be concerned about the pointless animal cruelty, even if it isn’t illegal.

[Daphne – I’m sorry, but I can’t agree with you or even see your point. This is of concern only because the individual is unstable, and not because cats are being killed. Regardless of the sentiments of the Hallmark card crowd, cats are just another animal. If people who feel this way about cats were consistent, they would be permanently encamped outside the abattoir, protesting.]

Yes, I met a lot of animal lovers lately at a fenkata in Mgarr.

Ghax bilhaqq dawk mhux annimali.

Only two of those are companion animals.

Interesting. Being mentally ill is not a crime either, though. The scope for Police action is thus very limited indeed it seems.

Does this even fall within the health authorities’ remit? I am guessing they would have authority to have him admitted to a mental hospital.

[Daphne – Sectioning under the mental health laws, unless it is at the specific request of the next of kin, is a complicated process that is rarely resorted to, but yes, it is possible.]

I have dogs and cats at home, but I also have two kids (a 4 year old and a 5 months old)…not merely serving as child substitutes!

[Daphne – That is hardly the point, Naomi. Dogs, cats and children coexist in many households. They certainly coexisted in mine.]

If I am not mistaken, they are assuming that the animals were killed before they were tied to a cross, not sure, so there is still a possibility that they were crucified, no?

[Daphne – No, there isn’t. Aside from the fact that it is impossible to tie or nail a cat/dog down in that position because it obviously will not hold still and you will be scratched or bitten fiercely while the animal struggles and then escapes, it is not the actual nailing which kills a person in crucifixion, but slow asphyxiation as the body hangs down heavily from the raised arms. The physiognomy of dogs and cats is different to that of humans.]

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140210/world/zoo-kills-healthy-young-giraffe-feeds-to-lions.506199#.UviGJs3QQXw

This cruelty was done in Copenhagen.

Well, I suppose there’s nothing that could be done then.

People just have to put up with finding crucified animal corpses all over the place until the geezer croaks of natural causes, goes on another murdering spree which would give the police a reason to arrest him, or until some “animal lover” crazier than he is decides to take matters into his own hands and we read in The Malta Independent that a Mosta octagenarian was found murdered in his own home.

Surely a court can order his admittance to a mental institution where he can receive proper treatment? The notes contain more than enough evidence of his state of mind. The only missing link is conclusive proof that he is the one who wrote them, which in practice means a confession which will never be forthcoming if everybody keeps ignoring him.

No hope, Gahan. The Swiss have spoken. And they don’t back off.