The trial of an Oil City man accused of killing his girlfriend last year in their Mineral Street home and dumping her body in a barrel is scheduled next month.
Brandon Wells, 46, was charged with murder for killing Brierlie Walters, 39, at the residence they shared at 12 Mineral St. in Oil City on March 5, 2022.
Wells’ trial is scheduled to start Aug. 8 after jury selection Aug. 7 and could run as long as through Aug. 18 with no weekend testimony, according to the Venango County district attorney’s office.
Police detained Wells and checked the residence, where they verified that a dead woman, later identified as Walters, was in a drum in an upstairs bedroom, police said.
Wells, who was lodged in the Venango County jail after his arrest, was held for further court proceedings following a three-hour preliminary hearing in May 2022 in Venango County Central Court.
Wells waived his arraignment in the Venango County Court of Common Pleas in June 2022, according to court documents.
The charges against Wells include first-degree murder, drug delivery resulting in death, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, criminal attempt — manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, endangering the welfare of children, possession of controlled substances, use/possession of drug paraphernalia and abuse of a corpse.
