Sampson murder trial to begin in Bellefonte

More than eight months ago, Kitu Sampson was found shot to death in a trailer owned by Douglas Grove of Ferguson Township.

Today, beginning at 8:30 a.m., Grove will be tried for Sampson's murder at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.

Grove is accused of killing 25-year-old Sampson last summer, early in the morning of June 20. Sampson's wife, Laurie, was storing some of her belongings at Grove's trailer as a result of a domestic dispute. When Sampson entered Grove's trailer at Knob Hill Trailer Park to retrieve some of the belongings, he was shot.

The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

And while Ferguson Township Police Chief Ed Connor said there is no doubt Grove shot Sampson, it has yet to be determined whether it was an act of self-defense or cold-blooded murder.

The fact that Sampson was black and Grove is white has caused some controversy in the community -- a number of people believe Sampson's murder was racially motivated.

Authorities, though, have been unable to determine if race was a factor in the shooting.

Centre County President Judge Charles C. Brown will be presiding.

-- by Kristin Walpole