Murder defense requests different location

Monroe County Public Defenders asked for a change of venue for the trial of Michael James Griffin, 26, on Oct. 13, said Monroe Circuit Court Judge Teresa Harper.

Griffin is accused of alledgedly murdering IU Department of English assistant professor Don Belton, 53, on Dec. 27, 2009.

Griffin’s trial, which was scheduled to take place during winter break in Monroe County, will be postponed to sometime in 2011, Harper said.

Griffin is pleading not guilty to the murder and said he was sexually assaulted by Belton three days before Belton was found dead in his home with multiple stab wounds to his chest and abdomen.

Belton’s journal traced police to Griffin’s home, where they found a backpack containing a bloody knife. Griffin is currently in Monroe County jail with no bond.

Harper said she took the request for change of venue under advisement.

Griffin confessed to murdering Belton in a Bloomington Police Department interview in December 2009, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Griffin told police he was sexually assaulted by Belton in his home on Christmas Day and that Griffin went to Belton’s home Dec. 27 to have a conversation regarding the incident. Griffin said Belton did not show remorse of the alleged sexual assault, causing an argument to ensue, according to the affidavit.

“He felt that Mr. Belton was not in any way forgiving and that he did not show or express any type of feeling that what had taken place was a mistake,” BPD Detective Marty Deckard said in his sworn statement.

Their argument became a physical fight where Griffin unsheathed the “peace keeper.”

— Alex Benson