Charles Mangion, a 55-year-old resident of Santa Venera, was acquitted of charges including causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to ensure its proper care, following a prosecution blunder. The case stemmed from a report filed on January 8, 2023, when police found a dog confined to a small balcony, measuring approximately 85cm by 278cm, which was noted to be smaller than legally required. Evidence presented included testimony about the dog's confinement, a broken kennel, and urine on the balcony floor. Despite previous warnings and inspections since 2021, the court acquitted Mangion because the charges cited facts allegedly occurring in Mellieħa during a different period, a significant discrepancy from the evidence presented, which pertained to Santa Venera between November 2022 and January 2023. The court deemed this discrepancy a failure of the prosecution to prove its case, thus upholding principles of a fair hearing.