Teen Guilty In Mother's Death

PORT ANGELES - A 17-year-old Port Angeles youth was convicted yesterday of murdering his mother.

A Clallam County Superior Court jury deliberated about a day before finding David Bircher guilty of first-degree murder.

Sentencing has been set for Feb. 20. Prosecutor David Bruneau said he plans to seek the maximum sentence of more than 26 years in prison.

It was the second trial for Bircher. His first ended in a hung jury in October. He was accused in the June 1996 shooting death of his mother Carol Bircher at her home. Prosecutors said Bircher was angry with his mother because she had threatened to break up his relationship with his girlfriend, Trina Stern, who was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced last month to more than 23 years in prison.