Last Thursday, the two new Mock Trial teams took on Kingsway Christian College at the Supreme Court of Western Australia. It was a criminal case involving an alleged stealing of a $600 beauty cream by a student/influencer (witness Trinity Jones) from a busy store. Team ‘Law & Disorder’ as Prosecution, starting with Barrister 1 Chiara Del Marco, sought to show it was intentional; she had used the busy store to take the product intentionally. As Eleni Chapman said in her Closing, there was a ‘jigsaw’ of evidence to put together which combined to show guilt beyond reasonable doubt. However, as Jayden Pham from team ‘Suits’ said in the Opening, there was a very ‘human’ explanation of the accident; the accused was distracted and rushed to an exam, forgetting that she had put the cream in her bag. In Closing, Sabelle Chami (Defence) said the accused wasn’t running ‘from the store – she was running to her exam’. Well done to all team members who worked very hard for the past seven weeks to put together their case. It always takes unexpected turns during the trial. Both judges commented on the high standard of the teams for a Round 1 competition. We had many students in first time roles and many reserves came to watch, support and learn. Thank you to our helpful coach, Hon John McKechnie SC AO, who has returned for yet another season with us. I welcome Mr Jamie Gotti who has joined the team this year as well.

The result was a ‘Not Guilty’ verdict and a win for both teams. Law & Disorder won by 5 marks and Suits won by 2.5 marks.

This year we have a record, very large number of team members which is very pleasing and a terrific opportunity for all the students to learn about courts and trial procedure.

We wish the teams all the best for their next trial in Term 2.

Ms Natasha Clark & Mr Jamie Gotti
Politics & Law Teachers