Man convicted of Quilcene killings at 4th trial

PORT ORCHARD— A man was convicted of killing a Quilcene couple in 2009 in his fourth murder trial.

The Peninsula Daily News reports Michael J. Pierce was first convicted in 2010 but that was overturned on appeal and two retrials ended in mistrials.

A Kitsap County jury found him guilty of murder charges Wednesday in Port Orchard. The 39-year-old will be re-sentenced Dec. 12.

Prosecutors said Pierce shot Pat and Janice Yarr and set their home on fire to cover of the theft of their ATM card.

Defense lawyer Richard Davies argued the evidence was all circumstantial. He says he’ll appeal the latest conviction on grounds that Pierce was not given anti-psychotic medication while in custody.

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