Investigative Sciences & Literature Mock Trial

The Investigative Sciences and Literature class put their law skills to the test on Thursday, April 3 in the Board Room when they re-enacted a 1999 murder case from the Maryland courts. In true Mock Trial form, the students prepared for the trial using the court records and transcripts. Since the class is small, some students had to play more than one part, including Mrs. Pagnotta who also played two witnesses. 

Junior Elijah Goulet presided over the court that day complete with robe and gavel. The Prosecution was Senior Kassidy Ferguson, Junior Colten Immekus, & Junior Noah Mayes and the Defense was Junior Jordyn Betts, Junior Michaela Tenney, & Immekus. Junior Brayden Mell volunteered to be the defendant (Adam Seed), who was based on the real person, Adnan Syed, who was tried and convicted in 2000. Also helping out as bailiff for the court was Sophomore Maddy Seelye. Preparation for the trial took place for many weeks prior to presenting the case on Thursday. The students had to be familiar with transcripts, evidence, witnesses and court proceedings. They had to decide which pieces of evidence and witnesses to present and how they would be presented to a jury in a much shorter time than at the actual trial. 

The jury and the gallery were selected from Mr. Pounds and Mrs. Shaffer's Senior Seminar Class. They were asked to fill out a jury questionnaire, and ultimately, the attorneys chose 12 students and 2 alternates to sit on the jury.

The trial took about an hour and jury deliberations took place on Friday during the Senior Seminar block. 

The jury deliberated on whether Seed was guilty or not guilty on 4 counts:

• Kidnapping

• False Imprisonment

• Burglary

• First Degree Murder

After deliberations, the jury found that there was adequate evidence beyond doubt of Guilty for the first two charges. They found Seed Not Guilty on the Burglary and Murder charges.

In the real life trial, Syed, who was 17 at the time, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Recently this month, his sentence was vacated and he had spent 23 years in prison. He was released with 5 years probation. Here is the coverage of Syed's sentence changes.

If you are interested in taking the Investigative Sciences and Literature course next year or on joining Mock Trial, please reach out Mrs. Pagnotta for more information.