For those aspiring to enter the legal field, mooting is a great opportunity to see the skills needed by barristers in practice.

On the 26th April, Langley Park was visited by members of two criminal barristers' chambers (specialising in defence) who were organising the event after school. 

Judge: Shaun Wallace (TV personality) 

Leading Prosecutor: Mark Robinson (at Great James Street Chambers)

Leading Defender: Sahara Fergus-Simms (Furnival Chambers)

The other prosecuting/defence barristers, jury, usher, photographers (ie. the press) and the gallery were played by the students; teachers were the defendant, accuser(s) and witnesses.

A snapshot of the evidence:

PC Ndukwe: "I did punch and kick him, in accordance with my training."

Judge: "I am curious what you meant [...] punch and kick, can you explain?"

The PC then went on to explain that he struck the defendant to make sure he remained on the ground and could be arrested. One witness suggested that he punched him twice then kicked him several times. 

The jury's final verdict convicted the defendant of the first charge of "obstructing a Constable" but he was cleared of the more serious offence of "assault on an emergency worker", which would have resulted in over a year in prison.

An interesting element of the proceedings was the verdict's aftermath. Although the sentence was 12 months discharge, the defence and prosecuction barristers haggled over whether there would be fines (and how much the defendant pays in court costs, which amounts to a something similar). It was discovered (unbenownst to the jury, as it needn't be disclosed beforehand) that the defendant was on benefits and cared for a small child. As his income only amounted to £200 a fortnight, the judge reduced the costs from £725 to £500, payable in installments of £7.50.