
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 2, 1990                   TAG: 9006020397
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

TIGER KILLER CONVICTED

A U.S. District Court jury rejected an animal keeper's argument that a pet Siberian tiger had turned vicious, and convicted the man on federal charges in the rare animal's death.

Randy Metzger, 35, of Henrico County, was convicted Thursday on three charges in the January shooting of the year-old tiger. The beast was an endangered species protected by federal law.

Metzger was also convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon. Sentencing was set for July 31 before U.S. District Judge James Spencer.

In the two-day trial prosecutors argued Metzger shot the animal as part of a ruse arranged with a Goochland taxidermist, James E. Rapalee. Both men were charged in a four-count indictment alleging that Metzger killed the tiger and sold it to Rapalee in exchange for Rapalee's purchase of $600 worth of stock in Metzger's wildlife exhibit company.

The pair concocted the stock deal because it is illegal to sell the pelt of an endangered species, prosecutors said.

Metzger said he was only selling stock in his company and did not believe he was actually selling the animal's valuable pelt.

by CNB