r. v. wilson - ojen.ca · criminal law mock trial: r. v. wilson. a civil society through education...

1 © 2009 | ojen.caA c i v i l s o c i e t y t h r o u g h e d u c At i o n A n d d i A l o g u e

justice sector volunteer package pagePurpose of a Mock Trial 1Mock Trial Time Chart 2Information for:

Lawyer Coaches 3 - 4Mock Trial Judges 5

scenario: R. v. Wilson pageScenario 1List of participants 2What Happened? 3The Information (charge) 4Agreed Facts 5Background information for witnesses 6 - 14

role preparation pagePreparing for a Mock Trial 1Time Chart 2Etiquette 3 - 4Role Preparation for:

Crown and Defence Lawyers 5 - 7Judge and Jury 8Court Clerk 9 - 10Court Staff 11Members of the Press 12

For each OJEN criminal mock trial, there are three packages: » ojen criminal law Mock trial Scenario » ojen criminal law Mock trial Role Preparation Package » ojen criminal law Mock trial Justice Sector Volunteer Package

Youth need the scenario and role preparation packages. Justice sector volunteers/teachers/organizers need all three packages.

CRIMINAL LAW MOCk TRIAL:

r. v. Wilson


this package contains: pageScenario 1List of participants 2What happened? 3The Information (charge) 4Agreed Facts 5Background information for witnesses 6 - 14

CRIMINAL LAW MOCk TRIAL: scenario: r. v. Wilson

R. v. Wilson

charges: » Possession of a firearm » Pointing a firearm

For each OJEN criminal mock trial, there are three packages:

» ojen criminal law Mock trial scenario

» ojen criminal law Mock trial role preparation package

» ojen criminal law Mock trial justice sector volunteer package

Youth need the scenario and role preparation packages. Justice sector volunteers/teachers/organizers need all three packages.

A c i v i l s o c i e t y t h r o u g h e d u c At i o n A n d d i A l o g u e 2 © 2009 | ojen.ca

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C r i m i n a l l aw m o C k T r i a l s c e n A r i o : R . v . W i l s o n

list of participants

1.Joe Wilson(theaccused)

2.Laila Amar(Joe’sfriendanddefencewitness)

3.Mike Bourke (crownwitness)

4.Constable Esperanza Gomez (crownwitness)

5.Defence lawyers(4)

6.Crown Lawyers(4)

7.Judge

8.Court Services Officer(keepsorderinthecourt)(optional)

9.Court Clerk (assiststhejudge)(optional)

10. Jury Members (10)(optional)

11. The Press(2,reportonthetrial)(optional)

12. Court Artists(2,sketchwhathappensattrial)(optional)

Why are criMinal cases alWays called r. v. soMeone?In Canada, criminal charges are made in the name of the Queen, because she is the official head of our country. The Queen is also known as Regina (the Latin word for Queen), which when shortened to R. explains why criminal charges are called R. v. [Accused’s person’s name].Criminal proceedings involving accuseds (or witnesses) under 18 years of age are usually referred to by the initials of the young person rather than their full name (e.g., R. v. S.M.).


C r i m i n a l l aw m o C k T r i a l s c e n A r i o : R . v . W i l s o nW

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What happened? Joeis16.itwasMay**,20**,andJoe’sMomwasawayforthenight.JoeandhisfriendLailainvitedsomepeopleoverforaparty.

JoeandLailacalledtheirfriends,whothencalledtheirfriends.By10:00pMtheapartmentwasalmostfull,withpeoplefromschool,fromthebuildingandneigh-bourhood,andsomepeoplethatJoeandLailadidn’tknow.themusicwasloudandpeopleweretalkinganddrinkinginalloftherooms.peoplekeptarriving,andbymidnighttheplacewaspacked.

thenoisefromthepartygotprettyloud.atabout12:30aMMikeBourke,whohadjustmovedintotheapartmentdownthehall,bangedonthedoorandde-mandedthatthemusicbeturnedoff.thepartygoers,includingJoe,startedyell-ingatMike,andheyelledback.

MikeyelledthathewasgoingtogetJoe’sfamilykickedoutofthebuilding.inre-sponse,somepeopleintheapartmentpulledgunsoutandwavedthematMike.Mikerandownthehallwayyelling.suddenlythelightswentout.twogunshotswentoff.peoplescreamedandstartedrunningthroughtheapartmentanddownthehallwayoutside.

aboutfiveminuteslaterallofthemovementandconfusionhadstopped.Joeturnedonthelights.hewastheonlypersonleftintheapartment.suddenlythedoorburstopenandfivepoliceofficersstormedthroughthefrontdoorwiththeirgunsout.theyyelledatJoetogetdownandpushedhimontothegroundandheldhimthere.

thepolicesearchedtheapartmentandfoundagununderthecouch.WhenhesawitJoeyelledout“that’snotmine–i’veneverseenthatbefore–idon’thaveanyguns–someonemusthaveputthatthere”.thegunwasnotloaded.noiden-tifiablefingerprintswerefoundonit.

Joewasarrestedandchargedwithpossessionofafirearm,andwithpointingafirearmatMikeBourke.


C r i m i n a l l aw m o C k T r i a l s c e n A r i o : R . v . W i l s o nt

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the informationCanaDaProVinCE oF onTarioDaTE

in THE ProVinCial CoUrT oF onTario JUDiCial DisTriCT oF ***HEr maJEsTY THE QUEEn aGainsT JoE wilson

JOE WILSONwhoisayoungpersonwithinthemeaningoftheYouthcriminalJusticeactstandscharged:

thathe,onoraboutthe7thdayofMay20**,inthecityof***,didpossessafire-arm,withoutbeingtheholderofalicenseunderwhichhemaypossessitcon-trarytosection91(1)oftheCriminal Code.

thathe,onoraboutthe7thdayofMay20**,inthecityof***didwithoutlawfulexcuse,pointafirearmatanotherperson,contrarytosection87(1)oftheCriminal Code.

datedthisdayof,at

signed justiceofthepeace


C r i m i n a l l aw m o C k T r i a l s c e n A r i o : R . v . W i l s o na

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agreed statement of factsYoumaychoosetoassume,and/oragree,forthepurposesofthismocktrial,thefollowing:

• thatthegunisafirearminaccordancewiththe Criminal Codedefintion

• thatJoedoesnothavealicenseorregistrationcertificateforthegun

• thatJoe’sstatementtothepolicethatheknewnothingaboutthegunwasaspontaneousutterance,andgivenvoluntarily

• thattherearenoCharterargumentstoraise



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JOE WILSON, aCCUsED

Your background:

• YournameisJoeWilson

• Youare16yearsold

• Youareingrade11

• Youhavenopreviouscriminalrecord.

• someofyourfriendshavebeenintroublewiththepolicebefore.

Your version of what happened:

• onMay6,20**,youandyourfriendLailade-cidedtohaveapartyintheapartmentyouliveinwithyourMom,whowasaway.

• YouandLailacalledyourfriendsandby10:00pMtheapartmentwasfullofpeople,somefromschool,somefromthebuildingandneighbour-hood,andsomethatyoudidn’tknow.Lailadidn’tknowthemeither.

• Youweredrinkingthroughouttheevening,butnotverymuch.Bymidnightyouweren’treallydrunk,butyouweren’tsobereither.

• themusicwasloud.peopleweredancing,talk-ingandlaughing.itwasprettynoisy.

• ataboutmidnightLailatoldyouthatsomeonewasatthedoordemandingthatthemusicbeturnedoff.thismadeyouangry,becauseyoudidn’twantthepartytoend.

• Youpushedyourwayintoagroupofpartygo-ersstandingbythedoor.theywerepeopleyoudidn’tknow.themanatthedoorwassomeoneyouhadseeninthebuildingacoupleoftimesrecently(whoyounowknowasMikeBourke).

hoW can i prepare to be a good Witness during trial?

» Learn your facts by heart. » You will be sworn in during the trial and need to spell your character’s full name. » Stick to the script. Don’t make up facts because this is unfair to the student lawyers. » Listen to the questions carefully. If you do not understand the question, then ask to have it repeated. » If a lawyer asks a question about something that isn’t in your package, you can say you don’t know the answer. » Speak with the lawyers representing your side ahead of time, and get into character when you take the stand.



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JOE WILSON, aCCUsED• YouaskedMikewhathisproblemwas.heyelledthathewantedthemusic

turnedoff.

• thepeopleyelledatMike,tellinghimtogetlostandthatthemusicwasstay-ingon.Youjoinedinyellingathim.

• thenMikesaidthathewasgoingtogetyourfamilykickedoutofyourapart-ment.thismadeyoureallyangry.You,andthepeoplearoundyouyelledlouderatMike,andmovedtowardshim.

• suddenly,aguybesideyoupulledoutagunandwaveditatMike.otherpeoplearoundyoupulledoutgunstoo.YoulaughedathowscaredMikelooked.thensomeonehandedyouagun.Youhelditup,lookingatit.thenyourealizedwhatyouweredoingandtriedtohandthegunback.

• Mikestartedrunningdownthehallway.someoneturnedtheapartmentlightsout.thenyouheardtwogunshots.Youdidn’tknowwhohadfiredthem,orwhattheyshotat.Youdroppedthegun.

• peoplestartedscreamingandrunningthroughtheapartmentanddownthehallway.Youmovedoutoftheway.Youthoughtyouhadbetterstayattheapartmenttomakesurethingsdidn’tgetwreckedorstolen.

• afterabout5minutesthenoiseandmovementstopped.Youturnedonthelight.everyoneelsewasgone.

• suddenlythefrontdoorflewopenandabout5copsstormedintotheapart-ment.theyhadtheirgunsout.theyyelledatyoutogetdownandonepushedyoutothefloorandheldyouthere.

• thepolicesearchedtheapartment.theyfoundagununderthecouch.assoonasyousawityouyelledout“that’snotmine–i’veneverseenthatbe-fore–idon’thaveanyguns–someonemusthaveputthatthere”.

• Youdidn’tknowifitwasthegunyouhaddropped.

• Youwerearrestedandtakentothepolicestationandchargedwithunlaw-fullypossessingafirearmandwithpointingafirearmatMike.

• Youwereshockedatbeingarrestedanddidn’tknowwhattodo.Youdidn’tansweranyofthepolicequestionsatthepolicestation,buttoldthemyourname,youraddress,andthatthegunwasn’tyours.

• Youwereheldinapolicestationcellovernight.thenextmorningyouwerebailedoutbyyourMomunderhercustody.



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Questions you should think about When preparing:What kind of student are you?

How close are you to your friend Laila?

Have you ever gotten into trouble before?

Do you have friends who have guns?

How do you feel about guns? Have you ever had a gun?

How does your Mom feel about you being charged?

How do you feel about being charged?

How do you feel about what happened at the party to Mike?

How did you act when you were arrested? Did you cooperate with the police?

Are you scared about what might happen if you are convicted?

What was your grandmother’s reaction?

How did you act when you were arrested? Did you cooperate with the police?

Are you scared about what might happen if you are convicted?

JOE WILSON, aCCUsED



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LAILA AMAr, DEFEnCE wiTnEss

Your background:

• YournameisLailaamar


• Youareingrade11

• Youhavenopreviouscriminalrecord


• onMay6,20**,youwereatapartyatyourfriendJoe’sapartment.hisMomwasaway.YouknewmostofthepeopleatthepartyfromschoolandJoe’sbuilding,butsomeyouhadneverseenbefore.

• ataboutmidnightsomeone(whoyounowknowasMikeBourke)bangedonthedoorandsaidhewasaneighbouranddemandedthemusicbeturnedoff.

• YouwentandtoldJoe.Joewentovertothedoorandyoufollowed.

• thepeoplenearthedoorwereyellingatMike.Youdidn’tknowthesepeople.Joemovedintothemiddleoftheirgroup.hestartedyellingatMiketoo,andaskedhimwhathisproblemwas.

• Mikewasyellingback.everyonewasangryandabusive.

• thenMikeyelledthathewasgoingtogetJoe’sfamilykickedoutofthebuilding.thismadethingsworse.theyellinggotlouder,andthepartygoersstartedmovingtowardMikeliketheywouldhurthim.

• thenoneofthepartygoersyoudidn’tknowpulledoutagunandpointeditatMike.otherpeoplewithhimpulledoutgunstoo.Youcouldn’tseehowmanytherewereorwhatwas





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happeningbecausetheywereinfrontofyou.Youdidn’tseeJoewithagun.everythinghappenedveryfast.

• Mikerandownthehallway.someoneturnedtheapartmentlightsout.Youheardtwogunshots.Youdidn’tseewhohadfiredthemorwhattheyfiredat.

• peoplescreamed.everyonewastryingtogetawayfromtheguns.peoplestartedrunningoutoftheapartmentandyoujoinedthem.

• Youleftthebuildingandwenthome.thenextdayyoufoundoutthatJoehadbeenchargedwithpossessionofafirearmandwithpointingafirearmatMike.

• YouhaveneverseenJoewithagun,andhehasnevertalkedaboutgunstoyou.

Questions you should think about When preparing:What kind of student are you?

Have you ever gotten into trouble?

Do you have friends who have guns?

How close are you to your friend Joe?

How do you feel about Joe being charged?

Have you ever seen Joe with a gun before?

How was Joe acting at the party before this happened?

LAILA AMAr,DEFEnCE wiTnEss



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CONSTABLE ESPErANzA GOMEz, Crown wiTnEss

Your background:• Yournameisconstableesperanzagomez


• YouareaconstablewiththetorontoMetropoli-tanpoliceservice,andhavebeenfor7years

• Youpatroltheeastpartofthecityinapolicecar


• JustaftermidnightonMay7,20**youwereonpatrolintheeastoftoronto.Youreceivedacallfromheadquartersadvisingyouofa911callofgunshotsinabuildingatpape&danforth.

• duetothenatureofthe911call,youandthefourotherrespondingofficersenteredtheapart-mentinquestionwithyourweaponsdrawn.

• therewasonepersoninthelivingroom,whowas‘takendown’andsearched.Youlateridenti-fiedhimasJoeWilson,wholivesintheapart-mentwithhismother.nofirearmswerefoundonJoe.

• Youandtheotherpoliceofficerssearchedtheapartment.Youfoundagununderthecouch.WhenJoesawyoufindthegunheyelledoutthatitwasn’thisandthathehadneverseenitbefore.hesaidtherehadbeenlotsofpeopleattheapartmentforaparty,andsomeonemusthaveputthegunthere

• thegunwasnotloaded.Youputitintoabagandmarkeditasevidence.Lateryoutookittothepolicestation.

• YouinterviewedJoe’sneighbourMikeBourke,whohadmadethe911call.hetoldyouwhathadhappenedandconfirmedwhichapartmentthepartywasin.





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CONSTABLE ESPErANzA GOMEz, Crown wiTnEss• YoutookJoetothepolicestationandchargedhimwithunlawfulpossession

ofafirearm,andwithpointingafirearmatMikeBourke.

• Joelookedscaredandwouldn’tansweranymorequestionsotherthanhisnameandaddress.allhewouldsaywasthatthegunwasn’this.

• Joespentthenightincustodyandwasreleasedonbailthenextday.

• Youhadtheguntestedandtherewerenoidentifiablefingerprintsonit.

Questions you should think about When preparing:What reason did you have for arresting Joe?

Is it clear that Joe possessed the firearm?

Is Mike Bourke able to identify Joe as a person who had a gun?

Why do you think Joe didn’t answer questions at the Police Station?

Have you been to other gun-related incidents in this neighbourhood?

Does this neighbourhood have a gun problem?



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MIkE BOurkE, Crown wiTnEss

Your background:

• YournameisMikeBourke


• YouliveinanapartmentdownthehallfromJoeWilsonandhismother

• Youworkasataxidriver


• Youmovedintothebuildingatpape&danforthonapril28,20**.Youlivealone.

• onMay6yougothomefromworkat9:00pM.Youwerestartingworkagainat6:00aM,andneededsomesleep.

• Whenyouarrivedhomeyounoticedapartyinanapartmentdownthehall.overthenextthreehoursitgotlouderandlouder.

• atmidnightyouwentandknockedontheapartmentdoor.someoneopenedthedoorandyousawaroomfullofyoungpeople.theyweredrinkinganddancingandtherewaslotsofshouting.

• Youaskedforthemusictobeturneddown.thepersonwhoansweredthedoorlefttogetthepersonwholivedthere.

• theyoungpeoplebythedoorstartedyellingatyou,tellingyoutogetlostandthatthemusicwasgoingtostayon.

• anotheryouthjoinedthegroup.Yourecognizedhimassomeoneyouhadseeninthebuildingmaybeonceortwicesinceyoumovedin.Youhadn’tmethimbefore,butyounowknowhimasJoeWilson.





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MIkE BOurkE, Crown wiTnEss• hejoinedinwiththepeopleyellingatyou.heaskedwhatyourproblemwas

andyouaskedagainforthemusictobeturnedoff.herefused.

• Youtoldhimthatyouwouldgethisfamilykickedoutofthebuilding.Whenyousaidthat,theyouthgotevenangrierandstartedmovingtowardyou.

• oneoftheyoungpeoplepulledoutagunandpointeditatyourface.thenothergunswerepulledoutbyotheryouth.YouaresurethatyousawJoewithagun.

• Youranoffdownthehallway.suddenlytwogunshotswentoff.Youranintoyourapartmentandcalledthepolice.Youwerenotinjured.

• thepolicearrivedandinterviewedyou.

Questions you should think about When preparing:Why did you ask for the music to be turned off?

How often had you seen/met Joe Wilson before the incident?

Why did you yell at the partygoers?

Did you see which people actually held the guns?

How did you feel when the guns were pointed at you?

How quickly did everything happen?

What do you hope happens to Joe?

Is this considered a dangerous neighbourhood? Do you feel safe in your building?

Was there anything else about the evening that was confusing or out of the ordinary? For example, were you very tired?

r. v. wilson - ojen.ca · criminal law mock trial: r. v. wilson. a civil society through education...

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