Cecil lion hunt guide appears in court

Theo Bronkhurst, the Zimbabwean guide who led the hunt in which Cecil the lion was killed, has appeared in court in Hwange town, about 435 miles south of Harare.

He has been charged with failing to prevent an illegal hunt, charges he denies.

John Ray, ITV News's Africa correspondent, reports:

The Zimbabwean hunter who led the expedition that killed Cecil the lion has appeared in court.

Theo Bronkhorst, who runs a safari company, will stand trial on September 28 on charges of organising an illegal hunt.

Bronkhorst denies any wrongdoing over the hunt in July, when US dentist Walter Palmer paid to shoot Cecil with a bow and arrow.

On Wednesday he said the case against him was "frivolous" and "wrong".

A representative for the hunter who allegedly illegally killed Cecil the lion, Dr Walter Palmer, has contacted a US wildlife agency.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), who are assisting Zimbabwe authorities with an investigation over the killing of the 13-year-old lion, said on Twitter that a representative of Dr Palmer had contacted them yesterday.

Cecil the lion killer Walter Palmer could face up to 10 years in jail if he is convicted in a Zimbabwean court.

The country has called on the US to extradite the 55-year-old dentist after it emerged he had shot the protected animal with a bow and arrow.

Palmer fled the country before the Zimbabwean authorities knew what had happened.

He admits killing black-maned Cecil, who was a tourist attraction, but said he hired professional guides and believed he had the necessary permits.

The life-long hunter has gone into hiding since his identity was revealed by Zimbabwean conservationists.

The man accused of killing Cecil the lion wanted to hunt an elephant after the slaying but "couldn't find one big enough", his guide claims.

Theo Bronkhurst told The Daily Telegraph he never meant to hunt in the land where Cecil was shot and was "devastated" to learn Walter Palmer had killed a protected animal.

He said: "We would never shoot a collared animal. We were both upset. I should have taken the collar to the parks authority but I panicked.

"So we did what had to be done and took the head and skin as the client had paid for the trophy.

"The client asked if we would find him an elephant larger than 63 pounds (the weight of one tusk) but I told him we would not be able to find one so big, so he left the next day."

Mr Bronkhurst claims he "never knew about Cecil, this famous lion" and that four other collared lions had been shot in the same area this year.

Zimbabwe has called for Cecil the lion killer Walter Palmer to be extradited from the US over the "illegal" killing.

Officials allege Palmer, a 55-year-old dentist from Minnesota, broke the law by financing an illegal hunt.

Palmer claims he thought it was organised above board and did not know Cecil was the country's oldest and most famous lion.

Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri said she understood the Prosecutor-General had already started extradition proceedings against the "foreign poacher".

Cecil the lion killer Walter Palmer has been warned "the world will hunt you down" in a message left outside his holiday home.

A sign, with a lion cuddly toy attached, was taped to the front door of the property in California.

It reads: "You are an abomination - the world will hunt you down. Cecil Innocence."

Palmer has not been seen since news of the lion's death broke sparking a furious backlash from animal rights campaigners around the world.

The White House said today it would review a public petition to extradite American dentist Walter Palmer accused of illegally killing Cecil, Zimbabwe's favourite lion.

The petition has exceeded the required 100,000 signatures, and the White House has said it will respond to all petitions that meet that level.

White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said it is up to the Justice Department to respond to an extradition order.

The incident is currently being investigated by Zimbabwean authorities and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who said that efforts to contact Dr Palmer have been unsuccessful.

An international hunting organisation has suspended the membership of the US dentist accused of illegally killing protected Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe.

Safari Club International, which promotes big-game hunting worldwide, issued a statement saying memberships for Walter Palmer and his guide in Zimbabwe, Theo Bronkhorst, will be suspended while investigations are ongoing.

The Safari Club said "those who intentionally take wildlife illegally should be prosecuted and punished to the maximum extent allowed by law".

The announcement came as the US Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating whether Dr Palmer violated US law against trading in animals that have been illegally killed, transported or sold.