Former All Black among seal killing suspects

A former All Black was among a group of seven men on a chartered boat when two fur seals were allegedly shot dead on Sunday.

The Otago Daily Times reported that because police had said that charges were likely to be laid the newspaper would not name him.

The man's lawyer was contacted yesterday but declined to comment.

Yesterday a second dead fur seal was discovered on an Otago Peninsula beach near where the shots were allegedly fired.

An autopsy was done on the first body found on Monday, and on Tuesday the Department of Conservation and police said wounds were consistent with shotgun pellets.

The first seal was found dead on Monday during a search of Pipikaretu Point, prompted by reports of seals being shot on Sunday night.

The second seal was found in the same area by staff of nature tour company Penguin Place yesterday and an autopsy would be held today. It also appeared to have been shot.

Police spoke to seven men on Sunday night and confiscated three shotguns after a penguin-viewing tourist group spoke of seals being shot at from a boat.

Three men had admitted firing the shots and Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis said charges were expected to be laid this week.

Police still needed to speak to tourists who witnessed the alleged shootings.

- NZPA