The Forensic classes are conducting their mock trial to simulate the prosecution of Lee Harvey Oswald. The trial is a three-day-long event spanning multiple periods, over the course of which two teams of attorneys cross-examine and question various witnesses.

      Students were assigned to the role of either an attorney or expert witness. Attorneys are expected to collaborate with their team, to research all of their assigned witnesses and prepare evidence to be used during examination; students who were assigned to a witness are obligated to thoroughly research their historical figure and the role they played in the aftermath of the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

     “We kind of split up the work before coming back to work together on opening and closing statements,” said Sophia Laspina, a Forensic one student who played the part of a prosecution attorney. Students have been preparing for the trial over the prior weeks with the guidance of forensics teacher James Rocco.

     Forensic two student and “Juror One” Dominic Randall stated the trial “Teaches the legal standings of Forensics. We learn how to look at blood, how to look at fingerprints, but we learn how this is used in a court of law.”  Students in Forensics two helped grade students’ performances on a variety of criteria including composure and accuracy of information.

     Although the trial aids in a student’s understanding of the practical application of forensic evidence, Rocco added that this “academic event” is “like a mock trial [club] for everybody.” He further elaborated that the trial is similar to a performance that relies on a student’s depth of knowledge of their respective field of study. Students could have to provide evidence from photographic tampering to high-level conceptual physics.

     However, how a student’s poise and performance adds to the spectacle of the event. Forensic one student Brayden Seech, who played the witness of Luis Alvarez, said “It was nice to see people caught in a lie, or to see if they would break under pressure.” 

     Laspina agreed with this sentiment, adding that her favorite part of the trial was “[getting] a couple of witnesses tripped up, which felt good because that discredited the defense.”