The trial of an Effingham County man accused of killing his father and brother is slated to begin next month.

Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Judge Gates Peed set the trial of Craig Heidt to begin Aug. 17, following jury selection. Heidt is charged in the August 2008 shooting deaths of his father, noted developer and real estate broker Phillip Heidt, and brother, Carey Heidt.

In a hearing Friday in Effingham County Superior Court, Judge Peed dealt with nearly 30 motions filed by Heidt’s attorney, Dow Bonds. Peed denied several of Bonds’ motions but did not immediately rule on another defense motion for change of venue. Peed said the issue was not ripe yet but he could deliver a ruling during jury selection.

“I expect to be more involved in voir dire than usual in order to prevent the jurors from being tainted,” he told Bonds and Assistant District Attorney Michael Muldrew.

Bonds also asked for a crime scene log to determine who had been granted access to Phillip Heidt’s home on Springfield-Egypt Road in the hours following the incident that resulted his and his son’s death. Linda Heidt, Phillip’s widow and mother of Carey and Craig Heidt, was badly wounded.

Judge Peed also is weighing a defense request to have the juror