HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The Judiciary of Guam High School Mock Trial Program gives high school students hands-on experience to engage in simulated courtroom proceedings, which involves role-playing as attorneys, witnesses and jurors under the guidance of judges, legal professionals and educators, the Judiciary of Guam stated in a press release.
As this year’s competition comes to a close, four schools met at the District Court of Guam on Tuesday with hopes of reaching the final round.
In the match between Okkodo High School and Father Duenas Memorial School, Okkodo students served as the prosecutors from the state of Idaho who were looking to find defendant Kingsley Ford guilty of theft by selling stolen property. The other match was between Academy of Our Lady of Guam and St. John’s School.
In the fictional case, Ford, a college student and founder of the software company Sophisticated Systems, was accused of stealing computer chips. Students of Father Duenas were there to serve as his defense counsel.
The trial proceeded in a similar manner as trials in the local and federal courts with students giving their opening statements to a panel of jurors.
Myka Imbat of Okkodo delivered her opening statements on behalf of the state of Idaho and asked the jurors to find Ford guilty of the charge by explaining the evidence in the case will tell a story of greed and ambition.
“A story of greed, ambition, coercing a friend to steal in order to benefit himself. We will prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that Kingsley Ford is guilty of knowingly selling stolen central processing units. I ask you members of the jury to keep your eyes on the cards, let truth be your guide and justice your product. Kingsley Ford’s guilt is not up for debate, it’s written in the cards,” Imbat said.
Dennis Rodriguez, from Father Duenas, on the other hand, argued there wasn’t enough evidence to find Ford guilty because it was “vague” and relied on statements from Ford’s friend and co-owner of Sophisticated Systems, Rowan Pentito, who was played by student Alicia Bacani of Okkodo.
Pentito, in the case, physically took the chips but allegedly under the direction of Ford.
Bacani took the stand and testified as Pentito, answering questions posed by the prosecution. The testimony was halted several times as Rodriguez objected to Okkodo students asking leading questions and questioning the relevance of the questions. The panel of judges for the mock trial – Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, former Administrative Hearing Officer for the Judiciary Ann Keith and Yale Law School student from Guam, Kyra Blas – took turns deciding whether to sustain or overrule the objections.
In the cross-examination of Pentito, Rodriguez asked if Ford forced or threatened her life to steal the chips.
Bacani, as Pentito, stated Ford was “really persuasive” but she didn’t feel threatened.
“So that’s a no. … So you had a choice and your choice was to steal. Is that correct?” Rodriguez asked before Bacani replied her choice was influenced by Ford.
“I’m asking if you had a choice and your choice was to steal?” Rodriguez asked before Bacani said yes and Rodriguez’s questioning concluded.
Father Duenas Memorial School and Academy of Our Lady of Guam will meet in the final match of the Judiciary of Guam High School Mock Trial Program on Monday night.
