Order in the court: Students take the stand
Teens face off in annual Niagara High School Mock Trial Tournament
A confrontation between two embattled neighbours ended in tragedy when one man, fearing for his life, shot the other.
Bailey Tanner was shot and killed and Charles Lavel was charged with second-degree murder.
The defendant testified at trial that he feared his neighbour and had purchased a gun for protection.
On the day of the shooting, he said the victim ran at him with a knife. Then shots rang out. A psychiatrist testified the defendant struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, which may have impacted his perception of danger on the night of the shooting.
Is Lavel guilty of second-degree murder?
That was the question teams of students tried to answer during the Niagara High School Mock Trial Tournament held Thursday and Friday at the St. Catharines courthouse.
Organized by Ontario Justice Education Network, the sixth annual event pitted teams of students against each other in a courtroom — one team on prosecution, the other on defence.
The teens took on the roles of lawyers and witnesses and made their case before a panel of judges made up of local lawyers who volunteered their time and expertise.
“Far too many young people get their first impressions of the justice system either through television or if bad stuff happens to them,” lawyer David D’intino, who organizes the annual event, said Friday.
“I’m of the view that if you give them a positive view of the justice system, they’ll have more trust in the system and they will begin to start seeing themselves as positive contributors.”
Saint Michael High School in Niagara Falls had two teams in the competition.
“In the class, it’s processes and procedures, but this gives students a first-hand opportunity to experience what we teach in the classroom and to bring forth what they’ve learned,” said Saint Michael teacher Julia Chmiel.
Saint Michael student Isabel Huang, 16, said the competition gives students a unique learning opportunity.
“It’s a really good experience to learn more about our legal system,”
The teens took on the roles of lawyers and witnesses and made their case
the Grade 11 student said.
Fellow student Abigail Douglas, 17, agreed.
“Everyone is so well prepared, like real lawyers,” she said. “At the beginning, it felt a bit intimidating.”
This was the second time Ella Caplan, a Grade 12 student at Denis Morris High School in St. Catharines, had competed in the event.
While the 18-year-old plans on pursuing a nursing career, she said the mock trial helps students hone skills that can be applied to any field of study.
“It really helped with my public speaking skills, collaboration and team-building skills,” she said.
“It helps you to focus, and to work well in a high stress environment.”
Jay Naphin, a teacher at Denis Morris, agreed.
“The students have to think on their feet as they’re being challenged by other lawyers, by the judges, by witnesses who give answers they were not expecting,” he said.
Each team was mentored by a local lawyer or Crown attorney.
Criminal lawyer Bobbie Walker, who acted as a judge for the two-day competition, has participated in the tournament since its inception.
“It’s wonderful to see new generations of potential lawyers,” she said.
The other participating schools were: A.N. Myer Secondary School and Saint Paul High School from Niagara Falls; Greater Fort Erie Secondary School; Laura Secord Secondary School of St. Catharines; E.L. Crossley of Fonthill; Blessed Trinity Secondary School and West Niagara Secondary School of Grimsby; and Notre Dame College School in Welland.
A.N. Myer defeated Denis Morris in the final to win event.
Denis Morris student Max Cecchini was awarded best witness and Sierra Kievet, from E.L. Crossley was named best lawyer.
Ontario Justice Education Network is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization that develops educational tools that introduce young people to the justice system and helps them to understand the law.
The competition is a partnership between the network and the Ontario Bar Association.