Theo Bronkhorst, who helped American Walter Palmer kill popular animal, appears in court in Zimbabwe accused of failing to prevent an illegal hunt

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A Zimbabwean hunter who led the expedition that killed Cecil the lion has described charges against him as frivolous.

Theo Bronkhorst was speaking outside the court after his trial was postponed until 28 September following an application from his lawyers. He has been charged with failing to prevent an illegal hunt and if convicted faces up to 15 years in prison.

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Bronkhorst, who runs a safari company, denies any wrongdoing over the hunt in early July when Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota, paid $55,000 (£32,000) to shoot the lion with a bow and arrow.

The hunt provoked worldwide outrage when it emerged that Cecil was a well-known attraction among visitors to the Hwange national park and was wearing a tracking collar as part of an Oxford University research project.

“I think it’s frivolous and I think it’s wrong,” Bronkhorst told reporters outside court when asked about the charges against him.

Bronkhorst said hunting was integral to Zimbabwe and must continue, adding: “If we do not use wildlife sustainably, there will be no wildlife.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Watch archive footage of Cecil the lion roaming Zimbabwe’s Hwange national park

“I feel sorry for my client [Palmer]. He is a good man. He did nothing wrong,” he said.

Palmer, an experienced trophy hunter, became the target of abuse over the killing, and went into hiding after demonstrations outside his dental practice.

Police in south-west Florida said on Wednesday that vandals had spray-painted the words “lion killer” on the garage door of his holiday home. At least seven pickled pigs’ feet were also left on the driveway of Palmer’s $1.1m residence, police said. A handmade sign criticising Palmer was left in the yard last week. A security company has been hired to protect the property.

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Palmer has apologised for killing Cecil, who was renowned for his distinctive black mane, and appeared to blame Bronkhorst for misleading him.



But Bronkhorst said he was innocent of all charges and had obtained all the permits required to kill an elderly lion that was outside the national park boundaries.

“I have briefed the advocate and he said he is not available until 28 September,” Bronkhorst’s lawyer Givemore Muvhiringi told the court.

Zimbabwe has called for the extradition of Palmer to face trial for poaching. In reaction to the Cecil furore, three US airlines have banned the transport of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or buffalo remains killed by trophy hunters.

Zimbabwe has also said a second American killed a lion in an illegal hunt in April. Dr Jan Seski, from Pennsylvania, said in a statement that the hunt was lawful and that he had the necessary permits required by Zimbabwean authorities.