Cutchogue East Takes Mock Trial Competition With Legal Finesse

CUTCHOGUE, NY — Cutchogue East students emerged victorious in a mock trial competition recently.

After several months of perfecting their legal arguments, supported by the evidence found through research and guidance by adviser Amy Brown, the fifth and sixth grade members of the Cutchogue East Mock Trial team competed in a "Mock Trial" competition sponsored by Western Suffolk BOCES and held at Suffolk County Community College.

The students' in-depth investigative work and skillful presentation of the facts paid off, the district said: The sixth grade's defense team won both the performance and case categories, while the sixth grade's prosecution team won the case category.

Both teams prepared for the same case, one involving New York versus "defendant Michael Walker, who was charged with second degree assault," the district said. "As a high school hockey player, Walker was accused of starting an altercation with an opposing team player that led to the injury of a spectator. Both teams had to choose the appropriate way to present their facts and prove their case."

(Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District)

The teams consisted of both attorneys and witnesses, plus several alternates; attorneys for each side started with an opening argument, followed by cross examination of the witnesses and concluded with closing statements, the district said.

Mock trial team members included fifth grade students Cee Cee Abbott, Fiona Dunn, Allie Grattan, Melody Hammerle, Zoe King, Christian Kretschmer, Perri Lindsay, Brian Lynch, Gabriella Mannino, Kate Oliver, Reese Pearsall and Livia Perrin, as well as alternates McKenna Clark, Ryan Harned and Luke Mauro. Sixth grade students included Alexa Field, Colin Fitzgerald, Justin Fox, Ryan Kramer, Cody Rodgers, Matthew Rosato, Alexandra Rychlile, Casey Szczotke, Olivia Trant, Tanner Vaccarella, WIlder Valle and Ben Voegel, as well as alternates Michele Burns, Christian Lopez and Benjamin Scott.