No one knows anything 100%. Absolutely nothing. You can prove ... nothing 100%. period.
Having said that, 25 years of prosecutorial experience goes an awfully long way.
This is “I was holding it for a friend”. If facts come out to show otherwise, I’d gladly change my mind and say I was wrong. I have zero problem with that.
I stand by what he did was a crime based on the facts I see. And an experienced big game hunter claiming he didn’t know is like an experienced driver claiming he didn’t know the speed limit in a residential area because he never saw the speed limit sign.
All the argument about who the lion was, was he “human”, etc is all crap and a smoke screen. Quite frankly, those arguments and all arguments outside the fact mean nothing to me. But I believe he is lying. Again, if I am wrong, I’ll say, “I was wrong”. I have done that before and don’t find it the least embarrassing.
That is all you needed to say,”I believe he is lying”. You are entitled to your opinion. Had the said that, I would not have responded.