Theo Bronkhorst who led the hunt that killed Cecil the lion describes the charges laid against him as frivolous and wrong.
Bronkhorst has been charged with failing to prevent an illegal hunt and could face up to 15 years in prison. His trial has since been postponed until Sept. 28 to give Bronkhorst's legal team time to prepare their defense, according to The Gaurdian.
"I regret shooting a lion called Cecil that was never the intention. I didn't know he existed. Any other lion and I don't think it would have been a problem, and I sincerely regret that," Bronkhorst told NBC News.
He also told The Guardian that he feels sorry for Walter Palmer, the American dentist who paid him $50,000 to shoot the lion, that "he is a good man. He did nothing wrong."
Zimbabwe's Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri has spoken out about the issue wants Palmer to be extradited to face charges.
Palmer has since been in hiding and has closed his dental practice following the public outrage over Cecil's death.
In the video above Bronkorst tells reporters that the hunt is an "integral part of Zimbabwe" and that "it will continue."
ALSO ON HUFFPOST
