Deadly Conway bank robbery suspect could be heading to trial this month

The man accused of shooting two women to death in a Conway bank robbery Aug. 21 could be heading to trial this month on federal charges.

A scheduling notice filed with the federal court in Florence shows any pleas on the charges lodged against 32-year-old Brandon Michael Council will be heard on Oct. 24. Jury selection is set to begin on the morning of Oct. 26, according to court records.

Council, of Wilson, N.C., was indicted Sept. 20 on federal charges of armed robbery resulting in death, using a firearm in a violent crime that resulted in murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Two of the counts carry the possible weight of capital punishment, but U.S. prosecutors have not decided whether they will seek it.

Council also faces seven state counts - two of which could be punishable by death - after police say he shot and killed Kathryn “Katie” Davis Skeen and Donna Major while allegedly robbing the 16th Avenue CresCom Bank during the first hour of the solar eclipse on Aug. 21.

This story was originally published October 11, 2017 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Deadly Conway bank robbery suspect could be heading to trial this month."