ST. GEORGE — Recently discovered evidence resulted in a trial delay and the subsequent release of a man charged with first-degree murder — a delay that would allow his defense team time to review hundreds of new documents and other material directly related to the case.
On Monday, Eric Larsen Sampson, charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife last year, appeared before District Judge Eric Gentry for what was initially scheduled as a motion hearing at 5th District Court in St. George.
With trial less than two weeks away, the question before the court was whether Sampson should be released due to an unexpected glitch that delayed the trial scheduled to begin Aug. 4.
That delay was due to a large volume of evidence that was recently discovered and sent to the defense team late last week.
The case was filed after police were called to Sampson's residence on the 2800 block of South 2350 East on Sept. 1, 2024, after receiving a report that a woman had been found unconscious and not breathing, as previously reported by St. George News.
