Cape man charged with murder to appear in court May 13

A Cape Girardeau man charged with two counts of first-degree murder has received more time for his attorney to prepare his defense.

Kenneth Dewayne Bell Jr., 22, appeared Monday with his attorney at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse before Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis. Michael Sato, an assistant public defender assigned to defend Bell, told Lewis he was reviewing "several hundred" pages of documents obtained through discovery motions made by the defense, and more time is needed to review them. Lewis passed the matter until May 13, when Bell will be back in court for a status review of his case.

Bell faces two counts of first-degree murder and a charge of armed criminal action in connection with the Feb. 7 shooting deaths of Shannon D. James, 43, and Misty D. Cole, 39, in an apartment building at 401 S. Pacific St. Bell pleaded not guilty to the charges in March, and he is being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail in lieu of $2.5 million cash or surety bond.

According to a probable-cause statement issued by Sgt. Don Perry of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, a witness identified Bell as the gunman in a photo lineup, and the witness said he saw Bell and James in an argument shortly before the shooting. James and the witness had been walking along Bloomfield Road, the witness said, when they happened upon Bell and the two engaged in a "verbal altercation." The police statement didn't explain what the argument was about.

When asked on Monday if Bell would face life imprisonment or be subject to the death penalty, assistant prosecuting attorney Angel Woodruff had no comment.

Pertinent addresses:

100 Court Street, Jackson, Mo.

401 S. Pacific St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.