Threatening messages over cat killing at Golden Bay being investigated

Some 20 people who allegedly left threatening messages on social media after a cat was killed close to a Golden Bay restaurant last summer have been questioned by the police and are expected to be arraigned soon. The lobby group Animal Defence League, which was active in calling for justice after the incident, said the individuals had been called in for questioning between Friday and Saturday and handed court summons. Photos of the dead cat spread on social media in August, along with what was claimed to be an eyewitness account wrongly accusing a relative of the owners of having been involved. The relative was not considered a suspect. Nevertheless, the situation turned ugly as anger grew online and the owners found themselves on the receiving end of a torrent of threatening messages, even forcing them to take the restaurant’s Facebook page offline and disconnect their phones. Arthur Azzopardi, the lawyer representing the restaurant owners, said he was aware the police were taking action following a criminal complaint by his clients, who accused those who made the comments of harassment and incitement to hatred and violence. He said the police were still investigating and...