Watauga High students

learn about judicial

process hands on
By Melanie Davis
melanie@mountaintimes.com

A strange sound echoed through the Watauga County courthouse on April 8: laughter.

The Mock Trial Club of Watauga High School occupied courtroom 2 for a simulated murder trial, and every seat in the room was occupied.

The case is prepared in the beginning of the school year and presented to the students by the Watauga County Bar Association.

Under the supervision of faculty advisor Randy Combs, the club spends the first semester studying laws related the case at hand and selecting students to serve as prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses and defendants. Combs works in the social studies department of WHS.

During the second semester local attorneys volunteer their time to work with the students directly to help prepare them for the courtroom. This year Scott Casey of Casey and Casey Law Offices and Ham Wilson worked with the defense team. Shaun Lundy of Vetro and Lundy P.C. worked with the prosecuting team of the pseudo murder trial.

The club is now in its third year and April's trial was the second to take place in the Watauga County courthouse.

The simulated case was the death of a student at Salt City High whose body was discovered in a cove below a popular rock climbing area. The victim, Anne, was an avid climber. She was said to have discovered two classmates, Beck Martin and Cody Ward, cheating on an honors exam.

The prosecution contended Beck Martin had killed Anne to prevent her from going to school authorities.
The defense said Martin had visited Anne in the cove, but just to ask for two days in order to tell authorities himself.

The prosecution team consisted of Hannah Reese, Megan Rush and Wes Aycock. On the defense side, Lyle Sterne, Tom Lambert and Orrin Wheeler presented evidence on behalf of Daniel Villanova, who played Beck Martin.

Other students participated as witnesses for both sides. Zack Crittenden and Adam Derek were expert witnesses as to the cause of death as Dr. Sage Cracian and Dr. Aidan Hobbes respectively.

Dawn Woodard played the role of park ranger Dawn Plotnik. Dolly Dollars testified as the school's resource officer, Lauren Kripke.

Jack Villanova played the role of Cody Ward, friend of Beck Martin and witness for the prosecution.

The students present their case to the panel of jurors, consisting of faculty members, school board members and school-related employees, organized by assistant principal Tamara Stamey.

District court Judge Phillip Ginn volunteered his time to preside over the case. Ginn also volunteered to serve as the judge for the first trial the club held. Watauga County Sheriff's officer Pat Baker volunteered to serve as bailiff for the trial. Baker is also a return volunteer who assisted with the first event.

After approximately 15 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of voluntary manslaughter, a lesser offense than the defendant was originally charged.

The club will continue next year and eventually may hold mock trials in both the spring and fall semesters.