The trial of a local hunter accused of failing to stop American dentist Walter James Palmer illegally killing the country's most prized lion Cecil, has been postponed by a Zimbabwean court.
A Zimbabwean court on Wednesday postponed to September 28 the trial of a local hunter accused of failing to stop American dentist Walter James Palmer illegally killing the country's most prized lion in July.
Theo Bronkhorst was arrested last week and charged with breaching hunting rules when he helped Palmer lure Cecil, a rare black-maned lion, out of Hwange National Park and shoot him with a bow and arrow, in a case that caused international outrage online and put the spotlight on big game hunting in Africa. Bronkhorst has yet to plead in court but has publicly denied any wrongdoing. He appeared for the short hearing in Hwange, western Zimbabwe, where his lawyer requested the adjournment.
A picture taken on July 29, 2015 shows professional Zimbabwean hunter Theo Bronkhorst (R) and his defence lawyer Givemore Muvhiringi (L) leaving the Magistrate's Court after proceedings on poaching charges. Image Credit: AFP
Givemore Muvhiringi said another attorney who was meant to argue the case was unavailable and that the defence needed more time to prepare for the trial. If convicted, Bronkhorst faces a fine of $20,000 and up to 10 years in jail.
A local game park owner Headman Sibanda also appeared before a different magistrate in the same Hwange court charged with "permitting an illegal hunt" of a lion in April by another American hunter, Jan Seski, a doctor from Pennsylvania.
Sibanda was not asked to plead and was set free on $300 bail. He will make a routine appearance in court on September 3.
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.
Read: Cecil the lion's brother alive and well: Researcher
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