Nine charged in Tanzania over murder of British pilot

Nine Tanzanians have been charged in connection with the murder of a British conservationist whose helicopter was shot down while he chased suspected poachers, the Guardian reports.

If further reports that Roger Gower, 37, died when suspected poachers gunned down his helicopter during a patrol of the Maswa game reserve in northern Tanzania, close to the Serengeti national park, on 29 January.

‘‘Four of the suspects were charged with murder while the (five) others will face economic sabotage and illegal possession of firearms charges,’‘ said Yamilo Mlekana, a senior Tanzanian government prosecutor.

However, not all will appear before the same court. The four men charged with murder have not yet entered any plea and their case will be heard in the high court. The other five will be tried in a lower court.

Gower had been working for Friedkin Conservation Fund, spotting carcasses of recently killed elephants and tracking poachers.

It is estimated that more than 30,000 elephants are killed for their tusks every year across Africa.