The mock trial team from North Battleford Comprehensive High School participated in the 13th annual McKercher Cup Mock Trial.
Students on the mock trial team included Laura Oingonn, Brandon Horrell, Arsalan Anees, Sean Newton, Emily Jackson, Charlotte Baxter-Smith, Taisley Isaac and their coach Lynn Thompson. Other schools from Saskatoon, Prince Albert and two teams from Yorkton also participated in this event.
The teams had to present both the prosecution and the defence for a case where the accused was charged with possession of a loaded fire arm. The North Battleford team lost their prosecution, but they won the case while on the defence. For the defence case, Newton, Horrell, Anees and Isaac were lawyers while Oingonn, and Baxter-Smith were witnesses. For the prosecution, Newton, Oingonn, Anees, and Isaac were lawyers, Jackson was a witness and Horrell played the accused.
The McKercher Cup is hosted every year in order to promote Law Day, which is a national event in order to celebrate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The mock trial helps students learn the etiquette, rules and procedures of a courtroom. The event took place at the Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatoon, and the mock trials were judged by real judges.
After the trials were over the teams went to a banquet and awards ceremony at the Delta Bessborough, which was also provided by McKercher organizers. Emily Jackson took home the award as best witness.
The mock trial was considered a fun and excellent experience and students were already planning for next year.
