Southeastern Regional Voc Tech Students Present OJ Sompson and Casy Anthony Mock Trials at District Court House

(South Easton) - All rose as Judge Kevin Cunningham entered the courtroom to preside over the mock murder trials of both OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony. The hearings following an intense three weeks of preparation by Southeastern Regional’s Legal and Protective Services students, under the direction of their teacher, Pamela Foster.

The 10th graders arrived fully prepared for their roles as prosecution and defense attorneys and witnesses, complete with opening and closing statements and photographs of physical evidence from the actual trials. Twelfth graders listened attentively as jurors.

Scripted witnesses Kato Kaelin, Denise Brown, Kathleen Bell, Mark Fuhrman and John Gerdes, were played by the sophomores taking the stand in the OJ Simpson trial, while student attorneys presented direct and cross examinations, along with objections. Well researched photographs from the actual trial were presented as evidence for jury consideration.

Once again, Mr. Simpson was found not guilty for lack of evidence and reasonable doubt.

“The defense had a lot to deliver based on the bad procedures of the LA police department,” according to student defense attorney Marissa Wade of Stoughton. “I think we gave the jury that reasonable doubt – that it was possible for blood contamination and planted evidence. Because of the atrocious job of the police, any evidence presented by the prosecution was doubted.”

Despite a well-prepared defense team, Casey Anthony did not fare as well as OJ, and was found guilty based on convincing evidence and testimony. “The prosecution was very convincing, as if working in a real life case,” noted juror Trevor Powers of Easton. I was convinced of her guilt based on the abundance of evidence.”

Victor Monteiro, student attorney for the prosecution and Brockton resident, hopes to be a defense lawyer in the future. “The fake babysitter and the fact that Caylee’s body was found less than a mile from her house were keys to convict her,” he said.

“High school students don’t often get the incredible opportunity to participate in an activity like this. Giving sophomores first-hand experience in such a professional setting is very exciting. The students’ participation in the entire process of case preparation puts them into a situation where they got to see the results of their hard work,” said their instructor, Pamela Foster. “I was extremely proud of them, but to see them proud of themselves was particularly rewarding.”

Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School is a public 9-12 vocational high school located in South Easton, Massachusetts, serving approximately 1,400 students from the City of Brockton and the towns of East Bridgewater, Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, Stoughton and West Bridgewater.