DEARBORN, Mich. – The trial for a man charged in the slayings of two Dearborn Family Dollar store employees began Tuesday.
Lavere Bryant is accused of killing Brenna Machus and Joseph Orlando in July 2013.
A convicted sex offender, Bryant is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder as well as armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment, felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm charges.
Orlando was found shot to death in the store. Machus' body was found in a wooded area less than 2 miles away.
Bryant has maintained his innocence.
"I did not murder" the victims, Bryant said at his arraignment.
Bryant has a criminal history that involves second-degree criminal sexual conduct and assault charges.
When Orlando and Machus were killed, Bryant still was listed on the sex offender registry as being in prison.