Actress Brigitte Bardot offers to take Paul Watson’s place in prison

PARIS – Screen legend and animal-rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot on Tuesday offered to take marine conservationist  Paul Watson’s place in prison, saying she was “outraged” by his arrest in Germany.

“Being outraged by the fact that he’s been put in prison, I offer to take his place because I am his accomplice,” Bardot, 77, said in a statement after the founder of marine conservation group Sea Shepherd was detained.

Bardot has over the years campaigned against whaling in Japan, bear hunting in New Jersey, wolf hunting in Sweden, dolphin slaughter in Denmark and other animal rights causes.

“I have always supported Paul Watson, my brother in arms,” said the retired French actress who had a Sea Shepherd boat named after her in 2011.

A German court on Monday ordered Watson, 61, to remain in custody a day after his arrest on a warrant from Costa Rica, where he is accused of endangering a fishing boat’s crew during a 2002 confrontation.

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