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Cecil the lion's killer a good man, says Zimbabwe hunter | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The US dentist who killed a lion in Zimbabwe had done nothing wrong and was a "good man", AFP quotes the hunter who led the expedition as saying. | |
Theo Bronkhorst made the remarks after his trial for failing to prevent a legal hunt was postponed. | |
He said the case was "crazy" and the permits to kill Cecil the lion outside Hwange National Park had been obtained. | |
The killing in July has caused outrage around the world and the dentist, Walter Palmer, is in hiding. | |
He is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to hunt down Cecil, a major tourist attraction at Hwange National Park - Zimbabwe's largest game reserve. | He is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to hunt down Cecil, a major tourist attraction at Hwange National Park - Zimbabwe's largest game reserve. |
Zimbabwe's Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri has called for Mr Palmer to be extradited to face charges. | Zimbabwe's Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri has called for Mr Palmer to be extradited to face charges. |
'Prosecution is frivolous' | |
As he was leaving the court in Hwange town, in north-western Zimbabwe, Mr Bronkhorst defended Mr Palmer. | |
"I feel sorry for my client [Mr Palmer]. He is a good man. He did nothing wrong," he told reporters. | |
Mr Bronkhorst attacked the legal proceedings: "I think it's frivolous and I think it's wrong." | |
He added that was hunting was "integral" to the country and had to continue. | |
"If we do not use wildlife sustainably there will be no wildlife," the professional hunter said. | |
When asked about his prosecution, he said it was "crazy". | |
Cecil the lion in pictures: | |
How do you transport a lion's head? | |
What Cecil the lion means to Zimbabwe | |
When is hunting not poaching | |
How the internet hunted the hunter |