Pupils Turn Association Hall Into Courtroom For The Day
Last week, Years 5 and 6 enjoyed their first Enrichment lecture of the year as Ms Newman talked about her recent jury service at Bristol Crown Court.
The children learnt that there are 10 courts within the building and trials can last between a day and four weeks.
The Association Hall was then turned into a mock courtroom and children were chosen to take key roles, including Ted as the Judge and Flod who was the Jury Clark.
The children in the Viewing Gallery watched with great interest as Henry Mc was tried for allegedly stealing sweets.
Flod was the Jury Clark: “I had to work for the Judge, and pass notes and letters between the Judge and the Jury.”
PC Hattie was the first witness and she recalled the time that she saw ‘the accused’ steal the sweets – she was interrogated and questioned by the prosecution and defence.
Bea was the barrister for the prosecution: “I had to call up the witnesses and prove that Henry Mc was guilty of stealing sweets. The experience was quite pressurised because you had to come up with the correct questions to get to the truth.”
Henry K was a barrister for the defendant: “I had to help Henry Mc to not end up with a fine or in jail, so I asked questions to PC Hattie and other witnesses and make the jury think that Henry Mc was innocent. If it was real, which I felt like it was, it was quite tense.”
At the end of the trial Judge Ted asked for the final verdict and Woody announced that the Jury found the accused guilty of stealing sweets.
The crowd felt some community service and a small fine would fit the crime.
Thank you to Ms Newman for sharing her experience in such an entertaining way – Years 5 and 6 thoroughly enjoyed the mock trial.
