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Court is in session at NMMU

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Eight Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University teams are participating in the Lexis Nexus national mock trial competition hosted by NMMU’s Faculty of Law.

22 teams from universities across the country are participating in the mock trial contest in which a criminal proceeding (case) is simulated and students present viva voce evidence and examine and cross-examine witnesses, do opening and closing statements and the like, as opposed to a moot court where arguments are presented based on their written heads of argument.

Each morning and afternoon the student teams draw whether they are arguing for the prosecution or the defence. The students only get the facts of the case 90 minutes before they are due to present their arguments. During this time they must know the law, do research to formulate their arguments, as well as prepare their witnesses and, in the case of the prosecution, timeously prepare the charge sheet for the defence to peruse before the start of the trial.

“This competition is very popular with NMMU law students and this year we have 8 teams participating, as well as 170 NMMU law students who volunteered to be ‘runners’, bailiffs and witnesses.

“We are very fortunate that all the presiding judges are ‘real’ judges, advocates, attorneys, prosecutors and magistrates from Port Elizabeth’’ says NMMU Dean of Law Prof Vivienne Lawack.

The final round of the competition takes place at the Council Chambers on Friday, at 16h00. During the day the marks scored by the teams are displayed on the TV screen outside of the Faculty moot court room.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.