4:40pm UK, Tuesday February 10, 2004

A South African game farmer has appeared in court accused of feeding a fired worker to lions.

It is claimed that Mark Scott Crossley, 35, and three of his employees attacked Nelson Shisane, 38, drove him nine miles to another game farm and threw him into a lion enclosure.

180 lion yawning roaring

Skull found in lion enclosure

Superintendent Ronel Otto said: "Police searched the lion enclosure at the Mokwalo White Lion Project and a human skull, part of the victim's legs and pieces of clothing were discovered."

Johannesburg-based newspaper The Star said Mr Shisane was fired from his job last year and had returned to the Engedi game farm to collect his belongings but was never seen again.

A statement from the Congress of South African Trade Unions said abuse of farm workers was still rife in the country.

Crossley, Simon Mathebula, 43, Richard Mathebula, 41, and Robert Minsi, 41, were remanded in custody for one week by Phalaborwa magistrates court.