Mock Trial ended their year quite successfully with their Finals on Friday January 23^rd and Saturday January 25^th. Leading up to this occasion, mock trial club members had been having practices everyday to prepare for this event.

There are twelve members on North Forsyth’s Mock Trial team, but they divide evenly into two teams. Every practice both teams carry out a different case.  There are witnesses, an accused, lawyers, and prosecutors; everything a real trial would have. The lawyers have to prepare for the mock trial by preparing questions for the accused and/or witnesses.

The competition was held in a real courtroom, to convey the authenticity of a real trial.

“We would all stand for the judge, the witnesses were sworn in, and then each team did their opening statements.” Rachael Hosea, grade 10, says.

The case North Forsyth performed was a murder trial. Samantha Pyke, played by Rachael Hosea (grade 10), was accused of murdering a well-known criminal and very rich man, named Bobby Bacalaleri. Samantha, also an accused drug dealer, gang leader, and high-school dropout, had borrowed money from Bobby, and Bobby wanted Samantha to meet him on the top of the Miltonville parking deck.  Soon after Samantha came, Bobby was shot and pushed off the parking deck. Though immediately accused, Samantha claimed that she merely argued with Bobby and witnessed someone else murder him.

Even though only the 1^st place winner was announced, it is believed that North Forsyth High School received 3^rd place.