Pupils turn legal eagles
School pupils turned legal eagles for the day with a mock trial competition at Wolverhampton magistrates court.
Youngsters aged between 12 and 14 from schools across the area competed in the role play challenge.
Taking part were pupils from Cheslyn Hay High, Codsall Middle and Wolverhampton Girls' Schols.
It was the culmination of weeks of hard work, in which the children have been learning all about the legal process. Each child played a role in the imaginary case which centred on Sam Beatter who was accused of neglecting his rabbit.
The prosecution and defence had to try and persuade six young magistrates their case was the strongest.
Star performances on Saturday included Thomas Evans, aged 12, and Joseph Timmins, 13, both pupils at Cheslyn Hay, who played convincing defence lawyers.
Pupils also played the part of ushers, court artists and reporters. Wolverhampton Girls High's Team Two won the contest and will go onto regional heats in May.
Head of citizenship at the school, Sue Stones, oversaw the entry of the two teams. She said: "We are very proud of the girls they have shown they have lots of confidence to be able to do this.
"They really do have oodles of it and I think the other skill they have shown is a lot of preparation. It helped that they were familiar with the court because they have visited before."
Codsall Middle School pupils Hannah Timmins and Holly Daybell took first and second prize in the young journalists' contest.
Clerk Lindsey Tonks, who organised the event, said:"The children had obviously worked very hard."
