Lion Man pot allegation 'untrue'

Craig Busch arriving at an Employment Court hearing last year. Photo / Northern Advocate

An employee of Zion Wildlife Gardens' claims that Lion Man Craig Busch smoked marijuana while handling lions has been challenged.

Mr Busch's lawyer said today that his client had "categorically denied" the allegation.

Carpenter John Davis, who has worked at the park for more than six years, yesterday said he would resign if Mr Busch was re-instated as an employee of the park.

He was giving evidence at an Employment Relations Authority investigative meeting into Mr Busch's dismissal - which was unfolding while a big cat handler at the wildlife park was mauled to death by a white tiger.

Mr Busch was present at the meeting but rushed home after it adjourned for lunch about 12.15pm.

Authority member and investigation head Yvonne Oldfield adjourned the case, scheduled to finish tomorrow, until further notice.

Mr Davis made the drug claims while being questioned by Mr Busch's lawyer Daniel Erickson.

He said Mr Busch was sitting down with the lions when he last saw him smoking marijuana.

When asked by Mr Erickson whether he complained to his employer about his client taking marijuana, which was a serious health and safety issue, Mr Davis replied: "He was the management."

At one stage when Mr Busch used the drug inside a lion enclosure, Mr Davis said he commented: "This will make a nice calendar shot without the pot."

Mr Erickson told nzherald.co.nz this afternoon that he had put the allegation, contained in written evidence, to Mr Busch at the hearing and he had categorically denied it.

Yesterday, Mr Davis admitted that in the early 80s, he was sentenced to two years in prison on a charge of importing marijuana.

He said he had nothing but contempt for Mr Busch, who threatened to sue him and his wife.

Mr Davis said the Lion Man kept saying to him that, if he [Busch] could not get the park, no one could have it.

He described Mr Busch as a "violent man" who would undermine things done at the park and work against his mother.

Once he was dismissed, Mr Davis said things started running smoother at the park.

He said Mrs Busch told him not to talk to Mr Busch or assist him because jobs such as construction of enclosures and maintenance work never got done when the Lion Man was involved.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE, NZ HERALD STAFF