|
AMIT GURNANI
Anticipation
rose as Veronica Stewart, prosecuting attorney in People v. Casco,
stood for the fourth time objecting furiously to the badgering questions
of defense counsel Paige Turpen.
This is just one of the many different scenes mock trial members at
Yosemite High School have observed in the last 16 weeks of grueling
practices and during the year’s finale, the state competition.
Once again, the YHS Mock Trial Team, coached by attorney/teacher Jim
Lee, competed in the State Mock Trial competition, this year in Orange.
As of press time, the results were still not known.
The spunky and stylish Paige Turpen, the charismatic and fiery Bree
Boyd, and the sympathetic Jason Koczano-wicz made up the legal defense
trial team. With an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the pertinent
case law, Kristin Lukan conducted the extremely difficult pre-trial
motion to suppress evidence.
Just as interesting as these highly complex lawyers were the witnesses
for the defense. Christine Casner portrayed quick-thinking restaurateur
K.C. Cline, employer of the defendant, and Madison Casco was portrayed
as undeniably innocent of credit card fraud by Caitlin Blum.
Melanie Deto shined as Casco’s loyal friend, River Lenox and Andrew
Durell was Casco’s neighbor, Jamie Sung. Michael Haar controlled the
behavior in the court and swore in the witnesses as the stern bailiff.
Eloquent and convincing, Gabriella Ripley Phipps delivered the opening
statement while confident and loquacious Alexandra Watt and the austere
and sometimes volatile Veronica Stew-art expertly laid out a circumstantial
yet highly persuasive case for the prosecution.
A knowledgeable and well - prepared Amit Gurnani stealthily argued
against the defense pre-trial motion to suppress. One of the witnesses
supporting the prosecution's case was Landon Grossi, who energetically
portrayed the defendant’s longtime friend - turned - enemy, Devon
Wilshire.
Valerie Woolard played the part of highly rational and well-trained
police officer, Rory Brosnan, lead investigator in the case. Jessica
Tyson played the part of the fastidiously impeccable teacher, Chris
Conely, and Jessie Fis-cher was the intelligent and ever-watchful
librarian, Pat LaPoint. Brittany Bohner was the all-important official
timekeeper.
The YHS Mock Trial Team for 2003-2004 has extended its “heartfelt
thanks to David Smothers, Dale Blea, Bernard McGoldrick and, especially,
James Watkins, all local attorneys who volunteered their valuable
time to preside over the team’s practice trials and offer much-needed
and welcomed constructive criticism on points of trial demeanor and
law.
“Without their help and input, the team would certainly never have
attained the level of competence and expertise it did. Once again,
thank you all very much.”
School
News Home
|