Err yeah, he pretty much admits that's what happened.
he did, but in reference to him not knowing anything was illegal, that quote is out of context, i was saying he knew he was illegally hunting a lion from a game reserve, something he thought would go unnoticed. shit only hit the fan when they found the collar, you can just imagine them riding over to the dying lion all proud of their "skilful" kill and then the realisation of and fear washing over them as they see that collar and realise this wasn't just a random reserve lion it was being watched, studied and they new exactly where it was! Its at this point he made a concious choice to evade justice and flee the country rather than if it was a genuine mistake or he was mislead go to police and explain (possibly even after they tried to destroy that collar and then he fled)
If it was a clear cut as he say's and he's innocent he would have stayed, he knew how it looked, he knew they were shady, he knew how big a deal it could be (although probably didn't expect it to be this big) and so got on a plane and flew home thinking he'd get away with it
Do we take it at face value some shady American Poacher going on a game trip to kill a lion using shady tactics, where they lured a lion onto land they had permits for, he killed it and tehn discovered just how bad a mistake it was, or as the pro-hunter/have to defend them lobby state he's just a really dumb and lucky guy who despite doing almost the same before is just unlucky and totally innocent, and we (the collective use) should leave him alone because he has a livelihood and employees - i know which one seems the most likely
