On Saturday April 21st, Parkland students won the provincial Law Day Mock Trial Competition at the Victoria Courthouse, a notch up from their 2nd place finish last year! Read more below...
The students participated in 4 courtroom trials during the day, and argued a manslaughter case as the Prosecution and then as the Defence. Parkland students Katherine Lee, Tomas Kalyniuk, Josh Harrick and Cardaliene van Marrum made up the lawyer team, and Gavin Wilson, Aimee Roberts and Tyler Harrick were the witnesses. The final case was argued in front of Associate Chief Judge Wishart of the Provincial Court of B.C. who commented that the students' advocacy skills were as good as 3rd year law students!
Students needed to learn courtroom protocol, trial procedure, rules of evidence, and advocacy skills in order to participate, and the Parkland students worked very hard to prepare for this event. They were assisted by their coach Sheila Stelck with assistance from Judge Neal.