Belton murder trial begins today

The trial of Michael James Griffin, who allegedly murdered English professor Don Belton in December 2009, begins today with jury selection.

Belton, 53, taught creative writing for IU’s English department during the 2008-09 school year. He worked and lived in Philadelphia before coming to Indiana.

Griffin, now 26, graduated from Bloomington High School South before serving in the Marine Corps, where he fought in the battle of Fallujah and earned a purple heart. 
Bloomington Police Department arrested Griffin, and he confessed to murdering Belton, according to the police affidavit.

Monroe Circuit Judge Teresa Harper will oversee the trial, which is scheduled to take place every day this week in the Monroe County Justice Building.

Continue checking idsnews.com and the print edition of the Indiana Daily Student for further coverage of the trial.