Fate of ‘gang member’ in teens’ hands
Niagara high school students given opportunity to experience justice system through mock trial
In the common room of a prison, a gang member rushed a rival gang member.
His target, however, quickly realized what was about to happen and grabbed a shiv hidden in his sock and slashed his would-be attacker across his neck.
Was the intended target guilty of assault causing bodily harm, or should he be acquitted of the charge because he was acting in self-defence?
That was the question a group of high school students had to decide during a mock trial held Friday in a Superior Court of Justice in St. Catharines.
Organized by the Ontario Justice Education Network, the mock trial pitted teams representing eight Niagara high school students against each other in a courtroom.
“The point of the exercise is to give kids an opportunity to have a firsthand experience with the criminal justice system and to introduce them to trial advocacy and criminal law concepts,” said Niagara lawyer David D’Intino.
“Students are both defending and prosecuting these cases, and their objective is to secure a conviction or get an acquittal.”
Sixteen-year-old Benjamin Hibert delivered the opening address for the defence for a team from Denis Morris High School.
“It was a good experience,” the Grade 11 student said. “It is certainly not as fast paced and dramatic as you see on TV.”
Teammate Angie Marano, a 17year-old Grade 12 student, represented the Crown and cross-examined the defendant.
“It was a really cool experience,” she said. “I really enjoyed how formal and how real they made it.”
Both Benjamin and Angie are hoping to pursue a career in criminal law.
Their teacher, Jay Naphin, said the event offers a realistic experience that can’t be recreated in the classroom.
“Most of these kids are looking to go somewhere in law and there’s no better way to find out if you want to do it than to do it,” he said.
Preliminary trials were held in the morning and the highest-scoring schools then advanced to the semifinals. The top two schools then competed in the finals for both bragging rights as well as a large trophy to be displayed at the winning team’s school.
Each team was mentored by a local lawyer and legal professionals from Ottawa also participated via Zoom.
The participating schools were: Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School and Grimsby Secondary School, both in Grimsby, E.L. Crossley Secondary School in Fonthill, A.N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls, Notre Dame College School in Welland, Denis Morris Catholic High School, St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, and Laura Secord Secondary School, all of St. Catharines.