Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
Get the news
Log In or Subscribe to skip
122 2 [h=6]Share This Story![/h]Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about
[h=4]Zimbabwe wants lion-killing dentist extradited[/h]Zimbabwe's wildlife minister says extradition is being sought for the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>American dentist who killed a lion.
{# #}
[h=4]Sent![/h]A link has been sent to your friend's email address.
[h=4]Posted![/h]A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.
[h=6]Join the Nation's Conversation[/h]To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs
[h=2]UP NEXT[/h][h=2]03[/h]
Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist who killed a beloved African lion, could be extradited to Zimbabwe to stand trial for the unlawful kill. VPC
Photo provided by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit shows Cecil the lion in Hwange National Park, in Hwange, Zimbabwe.(Photo: Andy Loveridge, AP)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is<span style="color: Red;">*</span>investigating the death of Cecil the lion<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Zimbabwe has now called for identified killer Walter<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Palmer's extradition to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>be tried in their country.
Palmer, a dentist in Minnesota, has not been heard from since Tuesday when he<span style="color: Red;">*</span>issued a statement to his patients<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and closed his dental practice amid protests. His whereabouts are currently unknown.
Palmer allegedly paid about $50,000 to hunt<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the animal after it was lured from a national park into an unprotected area.
USA TODAY
Minnesota dentist 'deeply' regrets 'taking' Cecil the lion
USA TODAY Network looks at how both countries want to move forward:
What Zimbabwe wants
"We want him tried in Zimbabwe because he violated our laws,"<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Oppah Muchinguri, environment, water and climate minister, said in a news conference Friday.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Palmer's use of a crossbow and arrow to hunt Cecil violated Zimbabwe hunting regulations, according to reports.
Zimbabwe<span style="color: Red;">*</span>officials are appealing to U.S. authorities for help and have begun the extradition process,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Muchinguri said.
USA TODAY
Cecil's death causes tourism drop in Zimbabwe
An<span style="color: Red;">*</span>extradition treaty<span style="color: Red;">*</span>does exist<span style="color: Red;">*</span>between Zimbabwe and the U.S. According to the treaty,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>an extraditable offense is anything that's<span style="color: Red;">*</span>considered illegal in both countries and is punishable by more than one year in prison.
Whether or not Palmer can be extradited<span style="color: Red;">*</span>depends on what Zimbabwe ultimately charges him<span style="color: Red;">*</span>with, David Glazier, a law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, Calif.,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>told USA TODAY Network in a phone interview.
"If the offense Zimbabwe charges (Palmer)<span style="color: Red;">*</span>with also carries a sentence greater than a year in the U.S., then he can be extradited," Glazier said. If<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Palmer is charged in the U.S.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>for the same crime, he would not be extradited, but would tried in U.S. courts instead of in Zimbabwe, he said.
That may very well<span style="color: Red;">*</span>be what happens, according to Glazier.
"It would look to me that the U.S. may have a pretty plausible case to try him," he said.
What the U.S. wants
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service really wants to talk to Palmer.
"Multiple efforts to contact Dr. Walter Palmer have been unsuccessful.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>We ask that Dr. Palmer or his representative contact us immediately,"<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Edward<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Grace, the deputy chief of law enforcement, said in a statement on Thursday.
USA TODAY
Olivia Nalos Opre: Why we hunt, even lions
The department is currently on a fact-finding mission and is working to gather as much information as possible. If they conclude the case is worth prosecuting, they will pass it on to the Department of Justice and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the DOJ will decide whether to pursue the case.
The African lion is protected under the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international treaty between 180 countries established in 1975 that works to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>protect<span style="color: Red;">*</span>animals and plants. The U.S. Lacey Act was established in 1900<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and is the law used to protect both American wildlife and wildlife protected by CITES.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Service will likely<span style="color: Red;">*</span>work to determine whether or not Palmer's hunting trip and the death of Cecil violated CITES.
"The U.S. government looks to me to have pretty robust grounds to prosecute him," Glazier said
At this point, the Service has said it's too early to speculate about what measures, if any,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>may be taken because the case is still being investigated.
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDZimbabwe seeks to extradite Cecil the lion's killer | 00:35Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist who killed a beloved African lion, could be extradited to Zimbabwe to stand trial for the unlawful kill. VPC
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDFeds investigating the killing of Cecil the lion | 01:05Officers are monitoring the home and neighborhood of the Minnesota dentist who allegedly killed a famous lion in Zimbabwe. Federal wildlife officials are investigating to determine whether the dentist legally shot the lion. VPC
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDWildlife photographer remembers Cecil the lion | 01:03A Minnesota wildlife photographer captured images of Cecil the Lion four years ago and says he didn't realize he had pictures of the animal until his death was reported this week. (July 30) AP
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDWhite House to Answer Petition on Cecil Killer | 01:27A White House spokesman said Thursday that the Obama Administration will provide a response to a growing online peition asking for the alleged killer of Cecil the Lion to be extradited to the U.S. (July 30) AP
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDLion death highlights Africa's poaching problem | 01:45The killing of 'Cecil the Lion' by an American hunter in Zimbabwe highlights Africa's robust poaching trade. Jeff Flocken of the International Fund for Animal Welfare says the US government can do more to discourage poaching abroad. (July 28) AP
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDZimbabwe park authorities defend legal lion hunting | 01:01Zimbabwe park authorities defend lion hunting in certain areas, based on scientific and social factors
Video provided by AFP Newslook
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDHundreds protest lion killing at dentist office | 01:07Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the office of a suburban Minneapolis dentist who killed a protected lion in Zimbabwe. (July 29) AP
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDCelebrities voice outrage over the dentist who killed Cecil the lion | 01:11Celebrities are voicing their outrage over American dentist Walter Palmer who is accused of hunting and killing one of Zimbabwe's most beloved lions. Krystin Goodwin (@krystingoodwin) explains. Buzz60
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDKilling of Cecil the lion sparks big protests, debate | 01:29A Minnesota dentist has temporarily closed his office following massive protests for his involvement in the killing of a beloved lion in Zimbabwe. KARE-TV, Bloomington, Minn.
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDMinnesota dentist wanted For killing Cecil The lion | 01:38Zimbabwe officials have identified the person who shot and killed Cecil the lion as Walter James Palmer from Minnesota.
Video provided by Newsy Newsy
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDMN Hunting Club Would Remove Illegal Kills | 00:34Hunting club investigates Minnesota dentist's records, after he is accused of illegally killing a Zimbabwe lion. The Pope & Young Club says Walter Palmer's US records could be jeopardized if he was found to have done something illegal. (July 29) AP
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDDentist who killed Cecil the lion could face charges | 01:14An American dentist is in hot water after killing Cecil the lion, a famous animal in one of Zimbabwe's national parks. The dentist could face poaching charges. VPC
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDU.S. hunter accused of killing beloved Zimbabwean lion Cecil | 00:59A conservation charity on Tuesday accused an American tourist of killing a much-loved Zimbabwean lion called "Cecil" on a hunt using a bow and arrow, adding that the animal had taken 40 hours to die.
Video provided by AFP Newslook
BIG GAME HUNTING IN THE CROSSHAIRS AFTER FAMOUS LION, "CECIL," KILLEDYelpers bare teeth at dentist, alleged lion killer | 01:18A Minnesota dentist is facing serious backlash after authorities in Zimbabwe say he is responsible for killing one of their country’s most beloved lions, starting a conversation on Twitter #CecilTheLion. Shannon Rae Green, Jasper Colt
Last VideoNext Video
Contributing: Associated Press
0) { %> 0) { %>
0) { %>
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed