MARION COUNTY — A 27-year-old Centralia man accused of murder waived his right on Tuesday to a jury trial in his Marion County case and agreed to a bench trial that’s scheduled to be held next month.

Mantez Duncan is charged with first-degree murder in the December 2019 shooting death of 39-year-old Clendar Edmond, of East St. Louis.

Duncan is one of five defendants charged in connection with Edmond’s death and the disposal of his remains in a burn pile near a tree line just northeast of 53-year-old Cardell Thomas’ home in Central City.

Thomas, 30-year-old Krystal Scerba, of Centralia, 27-year-old Darledria Flippen, and 28-year-old Blake Shahan are also charged in connection with Edmond’s murder.

Scerba, Thomas, Flippen, and Shahan are all charged with one count each first-degree murder, while Flippen is additionally charged with Class X armed robbery. Duncan is charged with two counts first-degree murder.

Duncan is accused of actually shooting Edmond multiple times in the garage of Thomas’ home and Flippen is accused of taking money the man had with him when he arrived with Shahan and Scerba at the Green Street residence.

Duncan’s bench trial before the Honorable Judge Allan Lolie is scheduled to begin August 11 and is expected to last four days.