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Euthanasia in spotlight for NMMU Moot Court competition

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Euthanasia will be the focus of the debate in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Law Faculty’s 2013 Moot Court competition on Monday, 15 April 2012.

The competition is held in the first semester of every academic year. It is open to second-, third-year and-final year law students registered at NMMU. They are required to divide themselves into teams of two.

“We have based the facts on an assisted suicide scenario. The Applicant wants euthanasia to be legalised in South Africa,” says Mrs Joanna Botha, the Moot Court competition coordinator.

In early February, the students were provided with facts. The students submitted argument for both parties in March. The teams then participated in the oral advocacy rounds late last month, arguing twice for both the accused and the State before a bench of three judges. The judges were local advocates and a retired judge from the PE Bar, who gave up their time to preside.

After the oral rounds two teams were selected to compete in the final, which is scheduled for 15 April.

The judges for the final are Judge Hennie Liebenberg, Law Dean Prof Vivienne Lawack, Advocate Patrick Scott SC, and Advocates Gitesh Gajjar and Mechelle Benecke.

The best moot team will represent NMMU at the Phillip Jessop International Law competition and at the All Africa Moot competition. The team members this year are Nanga Kwinana and Stuart Hodgkinson who will represent the applicant and Tino Chikuni and Hlomela Bucwa representing the respondents.

“The Law Faculty is committed to developing a mooting culture. We believe our efforts have been successful,” says Botha.

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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.