I did happen to read the story.
Bad as it reads I put the blame on the local “professional hunter” who lead him to the Lion.
It appears the two locals are facing 15 years in jail.
The guy shot a lion with a bow for his own ego. There was no other reason to kill that wonderful animal.
Blame the hunter. The guy with the gun always bears ultimate responsibility. Always.
Never take a shot without knowing what you are shooting. The collar would have been obvious.
Dragging an animal to bait the lion out of the park? Obvious.
Tracking a wounded animal for two days? Cruel.
Trophy hunting a protected lion whose cubs will now all die? Idiocy.
And this guy has a prior poaching conviction in Wisconsin.
He’s indisputably garbage.