Law Week to rule on Big Bad Wolf
The alleged blowing down of three homes has one of the world’s most famous wolves heading to trial.
Sneezy the Wolf, a.k.a. the “Big Bad Wolf” is charged with a number of criminal offences including mischief over $5,000 in connection with the alleged huffing, puffing and blowing down of three homes.
The trial Wednesday will be witnessed and run by students from Penticton schools and even as far afield as Grand Forks at the Penticton courthouse to celebrate Law Week, a national event held annually to celebrate the signing of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Students will get an opportunity to learn from law professionals about the vital role of an open, independent and unbiased judicial system.
A police dog handler will be doing a demonstration for students, who will also get a chance to hear from RCMP, BC Sheriffs as well as civil, family and criminal lawyers about life at the courthouse. Exercises with Grade 12 students will take place, including a mock bail hearing.
A big difference this year is two other courtrooms will be functioning as normal, whereas the event is usually held during the judge’s conference when courts are shut down.
“There’s some procedural and substantive stuff going on that day that kids can sit in and watch,” said Paul Varga, a local lawyer.
The event is put on to make sure the “wheels of justice are not a mystery” to the 200 youth expected to take part throughout the day, he said.
“They are going to be involved in the justice system at some point throughout their lives. Either as a user of its services or as a participant in what happens.
“To get a little bit of the process demystified is going to help them along, I think, in their lives,” Varga said, “and to help them make some decisions that benefit the public.”
He recalls taking a law class in Grade 11 that benefited him even prior to embarking on a legal career.
“I ended up being a witness to an event not long afterwards, so that helped me sort of get a grasp on what was going to happen, rather than being completely afraid of the circumstances,” Varga said.
Courthouse staff will be treating students to a barbecue during the day.
The Three Little Pigs could not be reached for comment.
The pigs are expected to testify that Sneezy blew down their homes.
Reportedly, Sneezy is so named due to a pre-existing asthma condition, limiting his lung capacity to the extent he could not physically blow the houses down.
There is also expected evidence to suggest the homes themselves were constructed contrary to local building codes.