9KBW mentor to Success!
Ben Edwards and Sophie Quinton-Carter volunteered as mentors for this year’s National Bar Mock Trial Competition, in which over 200 schools from across the country compete. Ben and Sophie mentored the Sydney Russell School in Dagenham. The team was a group of 14-15-year-old secondary school children who had never competed in the competition before.
The team had to prepare two cases to present for both the prosecution and defence. The cases were particularly varied this year; witness intimidation, involving a somewhat complex reverse burden, and a case of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Ben and Sophie worked with the school in preparing these cases and paid a visit to give hands on advice in witness handling and presenting opening and closing speeches. Their regional heat was held on Saturday 19th November 2016 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
The students competed in three rounds – acting as both prosecution and defence, pitted against A-level students and various schools from across the region. After a hard fought day, Sydney Russell School reached the final, presided over by HHJ Kinch QC.
The students won their regional final and will now go on to compete in the national finals at the Royal Courts of Justice in March 2017.
Ben and Sophie are pictured below with the Sydney Russell School collecting their certificates from HHJ Christopher Kinch QC.
On behalf of 9KBW we would like to congratulate the Sydney Russell School and wish them the very best of luck at the national finals in March 2017.