Updated 11:40 a.m.
An Illinois man has been found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the 2008 killings of a St. Louis-area Steak 'n Shake restaurant cook and waitress.
St. Louis County Circuit Judge Richard Bresnahan announced the verdict Monday for 23-year-old Oundr'eAkins of Cahokia, Ill. Because Akins agreed to a trial before a judge instead of a jury, the death penalty option was waived. When sentenced March 21, Akins faces the only option of life in prison without parole.
Earlier story:
A St. Louis County Circuit Court judge will announce his decision this morning on whether to convict one of two brothers charged in the death of two people at a south St. Louis County Steak ‘n Shake. That’s according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The judge said last week during 23-year-old Oundre’e Akins’ trial that he’ll announce the verdict today.
Akins and 24-year-old Anthony Akins of Cahokia, Ill., are accused in the November 2008 shooting deaths of waitress Tammy Cantrell and cook Mark Gerstner.
Anthony Akins’ trial is scheduled for July after reneging last week on a plea-deal promise to testify against his brother. Anthony Akins had pleaded guilty in 2011 to second-degree murder.
During last week’s trial, a prosecutor called the shooting’s meticulously planned. Oundr’e Akins’ attorney says his client wasn’t the only gunman.