Zimbabwe seeks extradition of American lion killer

Zimbabwe will seek the extradition of an American dentist who killed a lion that was lured out of a national park and caused international outrage, a Cabinet minister said Friday.

In the Zimbabwean government’s first official comment on the killing of Cecil the lion, the environment, water and climate minister lashed out at Walter James Palmer, accusing him even of trying to hurt Zimbabwe’s image.

Mr Grace said multiple efforts to reach the dentist had been unsuccessful and added: “We ask that Dr Palmer or his representative contact us immediately”.

“They (US courts) may actually doubt the competence of the judiciary here to try him in an objective manner, particularly given these prejudicial pronouncements that the politicians are already making”, said Muchadehama.

” ‘I have already consulted with the authorities within the police force who are responsible for arresting the criminal”.

Fred Morrison, a constitutional and global law specialist at the University of Minnesota, said a prosecution in the US was more likely. “… The processes have already started”.

He says he thought the hunt was legal and was unaware Cecil was protected. I don’t know Zimbabwe law.

Palmer could waive extradition or his attorney could contest it, arguing that extradition does not fall under the treaty, Ohlin said.

If tried in Zimbabwe, Palmer would face a jail term of up to ten years for illegal poaching.

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If prison conditions are “unduly harsh”, the U.S. could deny extradition, Ohlin said.

For his part, the dentist, Walter Palmer, said that he used local guides and hunting agents in Zimbabwe to ensure he was operating legally and so was not aware that the hunt was illegal.