COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A man awaiting trial in a Council Bluffs slaying has been accused of helping another inmate try to kill himself.

The Daily Nonpareil reports that Ben Lein was charged Thursday with assisting suicide. Court documents say Lein handed a towel Monday to the other inmate, who is on suicide watch. The inmate tore the towel into strips and tried to hang himself. The documents say a jailer saw the incident and removed the towel before the inmate could die.

Lein, Wesley Correa-Carmenaty and Markis Davis have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the March 7 slaying of 22-year-old Anthony Walker and wounding of 32-year-old Patrick Schultz. The three are scheduled to begin trial Sept. 27.