CRIMINAL LAw MOCk TRIAL: r. v. singh - OJEN

1 © 2009 | ojen.caA c i v i l s o c i e t y t h r o u g h e d u c At i o n A n d d i A l o g u e

justice sector volunteer package pagePurpose of a Mock Trial 1Mock Trial Time Chart 2Information for:

Lawyer Coaches 3 - 4Mock Trial Judges 5

scenario: r. v. singh pageScenario 1List of participants 2Newspaper report of the incident 3The Information (charge) 4Relevant Law 5 Agreed Facts 6Background information for witnesses 7 - 17Particulars for the Court Clerk 18

role preparation pagePreparing for a Mock Trial 1Time Chart 2Etiquette 3 - 4Role Preparation for:

Crown and Defence Lawyers 5 - 7Judge and Jury 8Court Clerk 9 - 10Court Staff 11Members of the Press 12

For each OJEN criminal mock trial, there are three packages: » ojen criminal law Mock trial Scenario » ojen criminal law Mock trial Role Preparation Package » ojen criminal law Mock trial Justice Sector Volunteer Package

Youth need the scenario and role preparation packages. Justice sector volunteers/teachers/organizers need all three packages.

CRIMINAL LAw MOCk TRIAL: r. v. singh


this package contains: pageScenario 1List of participants 2Newspaper report of the incident 3The Information (charge) 4Relevant Law 5Agreed Facts 6Background information for witnesses 7 - 17Particulars for the Court Clerk 18

CRIMINAL LAw MOCk TRIAL: scenario: r. v. singh

R. v. Singh

charges: » Assault » Theft » Uttering Threats

For each OJEN criminal mock trial, there are three packages:

» ojen criminal law Mock trial scenario

» ojen criminal law Mock trial role preparation package

» ojen criminal law Mock trial justice sector volunteer package

Youth need the scenario and role preparation packages. Justice sector volunteers/teachers/organizers need all three packages.

A c i v i l s o c i e t y t h r o u g h e d u c At i o n A n d d i A l o g u e 2 © 2009 | ojen.ca

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C r i m i n a l l aw m o C k T r i a l s c e n A r i o : R . v . S i n gh

list of participants1.Ali Singh (theaccused)

2.Jayme Watson(defencewitness)

3.Officer Dakota Lim(arrestingofficerandcrownwitness)

4.Morgan King(crownwitness)

5.Defence lawyers (4)

6.Crown Lawyers(4)

7.Judge

8.Court Services Officer (keepsorderinthecourt) (optional)

9.Court Clerk (assiststhejudge) (optional)

10. Jury Members(10)(optional)

11. The Press(2,reportonthetrial) (optional)

12. Court Artists(2,sketchwhathappensattrial) (optional)

Why are criMinal cases alWays called r. v. soMeone?In Canada, criminal charges are made in the name of the Queen, because she is the official head of our country. The Queen is also known as Regina (the Latin word for Queen), which when shortened to R. explains why criminal charges are called R. v. [Accused’s person’s name].Criminal proceedings involving accuseds (or witnesses) under 18 years of age are usually referred to by the initials of the young person rather than their full name (e.g., R. v. S.M.).


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subWay platforM robbery shocks coMMuters

October 20, 20**

by nina hikatia globe and mail

anywhere - Police are searching for a youth in connection with a bla-tant subway assault and robbery in the Lawrence West subway station in downtown Anywhere yesterday.

Officer Dakota Lim, of the Anywhere Police Service described the attack as unprovoked; “Two youths approached the victim while he was waiting for a south-bound train. They de-

manded money, and when this was not forth-coming, assaulted him and stole an iPod and money from his pock-ets.” A chilling aspect of the attack is that Of-ficer Lim noted that the victim felt a gun pressed into his body during the robbery.

The attack took place at approximately 3:40 PM. Other subway pas-sengers were on the platform both the north-bound and southbound platforms during the in-

cident. A fellow passen-ger, who did not witness the attack itself, offered assistance to the vic-tim after the attack and called the police from the platform payphone.

Police are urging any-one else who may have seen the attack to come forward. The Lawrence West station was closed for approximately 30 minutes while police in-vestigated.

Police apprehended one of the attackers on the platform. The indi-vidual has been charged under the Youth Crimi-nal Justice Act and fac-es charges of assault, robbery and uttering threats. Police are still looking for the other as-sailant.

Pedestrians are seen outside the lawrence West subway station in this file photo.


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the informationYoUTH JUSTiCE CoUrT, CanaDaProVinCE oF onTariorEgion: anYwHErEin THE namE oF HEr maJESTY THE QUEEn THiS iS THE inFormaTion oF: officer Dakota lim of anYwHErE, Police Constable, hereinafter called the informant The informant says that he/she believes on reasonable grounds that:

ALI SINGH,whoisayoungpersonwithinthemeaningoftheYouth Criminal Jus-tice Actstandschargedthats/he,onoraboutthe19thdayofoctober200*,inthecityofanYwhere,didassaultMorganKing,contrarytosection265(1)oftheCriminal Code.

ALI SINGH whoisayoungpersonwithinthemeaningoftheYouth Criminal Jus-tice Actstandschargedthats/he,onoraboutthe19thdayofoctober200*,inthecityofanYwhere,didcommittheft(under$5000),contrarytosection322(1)oftheCriminal Code.

ALI SINGH whoisayoungpersonwithinthemeaningoftheYouth Criminal Jus-tice Actstandschargedthats/he,onoraboutthe19thdayofoctober200*,inthecityofanYwhere,didthreatenMorganKing,contrarytosection264.1(1)oftheCriminal Code.

DateDthisdayof,at

signed justiceofthepeace


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the lawThe Criminal Code of Canada

AssAult265.(1)apersoncommitsanassaultwhen

(a)withouttheconsentofanotherperson,(s)heappliesforceintention-allytothatotherperson,directlyorindirectly;

(b)(s)heattemptsorthreatens,byanactoragesture,toapplyforcetoanotherperson,ifhehas,orcausesthatotherpersontobelieveonrea-sonablegroundsthathehas,presentabilitytoeffecthispurpose;or

(c)whileopenlywearingorcarryingaweaponoranimitationthereof,heaccostsorimpedesanotherpersonorbegs.

theft322.(1)everyonecommitstheftwhofraudulentlyandwithoutcolourofrighttakes,orfraudulentlyandwithoutcolourofrightconvertstohisuseortotheuseofanotherperson,anything,whetheranimateorinanimate,withintent

(a)todeprive,temporarilyorabsolutely,theownerofit,orapersonwhohasaspecialpropertyorinterestinit,ofthethingorofhispropertyorinterestinit;

uttering threAts264.1(1)everyonecommitsanoffencewho,inanymanner,knowinglyutters,conveysorcausesanypersontoreceiveathreat

(a)tocausedeathorbodilyharmtoanyperson;


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agreed statement of factsYoumaychoosetoassume,and/oragree,forthepurposesofthismocktrial,thefollowing:

• thatallstatementsgivenbywitnessesareadmissable.

• thattherearenoCharterargumentstoraise.

• thatthereisnorelevantfingerprintevidence.


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ALI SINGH, aCCUSED

Your background:

• Youare16yearsold,andabouttostartgrade11

• Youhavenopreviouscriminalrecord.

Your version of what happened:

• YouworkedatthesunsetDinerasaserverforaboutsixmonths.aboutthreeweeksagoonpayday,oneoftheguysyouworkedwithatthediner,Jake(youdon’tknowhislastname)bor-rowed$60fromyou.Youdidn’tknowJakethatwell;heseemedokay,butyouheardlaterthathewasinagang.

• soonafterthat,youlostyourjob.thewinterisslowandyourbosssaidhehadtoletyougoafteryourlastshiftonsaturday.

• onsaturday,october19,youworkedatthesun-setDinerduringthebreakfastandlunchrushes.Youwerefinishedupatabout3:30p.m.Youcol-lectedyourtipsfortheday(about$25.00).

• YoulefttherestaurantandwalkeddownDuf-ferinstreet,whereyoubumpedintoyourfriendJayme,withaguycalledty.YouknewJaymefromschoolandsometimess/heateatthedinertoo.Youhadnevermettybefore.thethreeofyoudecidedtogobacktoJayme’stowatchamovie.

• Youwentintolawrenceweststation.onthewayin,yousaidhitothettcboothoperator,thesameguywhoworkedthereeverysaturday.Yousometimessawhimattherestaurant,too.thethreeofyouwaitedonthesouthboundplatform.

• Yousawapersonwholookedfamiliarwaitingfurtherdowntheplatform,wearingaraptor’sjersey.YourecognizedthemasafriendofJake’s,

hoW can i prepare to be a good Witness during trial?

» Learn your facts by heart. » You will be sworn in during the trial and need to spell your character’s full name. » Stick to the script. Don’t make up facts because this is unfair to the student lawyers. » Listen to the questions carefully. If you do not understand the question, then ask to have it repeated. » If a lawyer asks a question about something that isn’t in your package, you can say you don’t know the answer. » Speak with the lawyers representing your side ahead of time, and get into character when you take the stand.



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youroldco-workerfromthediner.sometimess/herodetheirbikearoundtheparkinglotbesidetherestaurantwhilewaitingforJaketofinishwork.

• Youthoughtthe$60Jakehadborrowedwouldcomeinhandynow.Jakehadalsobeenletgofromtherestaurantandyouhadn’tseenhiminthreeweeks.YoudecidedtoseeifthepersonknewwhereJakewas.

• Youcalledoutandaskedifs/heknewJake,buttherewasnoresponse.s/hedidn’tsayanythingback–justignoredyou.thentystartedyellingathim/herandmovingcloser,saying–“whatareyou,deaf?Yougonnaanswermyfriend?!”YouandJaymefollowedty.

• tywasyellingandpointingatthepersonandmovingcloser.Youreallydidn’twanttohasslethem.Youjustwantedtofindoutifs/heknewwhereJakewas.YoutoldtythatyoujustwantedtofindwhereJakewas.Youweren’tsureiftyheardallthatyousaid,becausehewasyelling.

• astygotclosertotheguy,thepersonsuddenlypulledoffhis/herhead-phonesandasked“what’syourproblem?”tygotreallycloseandkindofbackedhim/herintothewall.thentyasked–“haveyougotthemoney?haveyougotmyfriend’smoney?”thepersonsaidno,andwasaskingtyquestionsinalowvoicethatyoucouldn’treallyhear.

• Youtoldtythatyoujustwantedtoaskifs/heknewyourfriend.Youdidn’tgetwhytywasbeingsoaggressive.Yougotbesidety,andtriedtopullhimaway.Youdidn’twanttogetinafightoranything.Youhadjustwantedtoaskaquestion.

• Youheardtysayingthatthathehadawaytomakesurethathegotthemoney.Youwerestilltryingtopulltyaway.thensuddenly,tyjumpedbackalmostknockingyouover.tystartedtorun,andyouandJaymefollowed.

• Youtrippedonthewayupthestairs.Bythetimeyougottothetop,youcouldn’tseetyorJayme.Youdecidedyoudidn’tcaretohangoutwiththemanyway,iftywaskindofunhingedthenwatchingamoviewithhimwould’vesuckedanyway.Youreturnedtotheplatformtowaitforthenexttrain.

• therewassomedelayorsomething,becauseabout5minutespassedwithnotraingoingsouth.whileyouwerewaitingforthetraintofinallyarrive,thepersonintheraptor’sjerseyandanolderwomanwalkedclosertoyou.thenapoliceofficercamedownthestairs.theofficertalkedtothewomanandthepersonintheraptor’sshirt.

ALI SINGH, aCCUSED



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Questions you should think about When preparing:what kind of student are you?

How close are you to your friend Jayme?

Have you ever gotten into trouble before?

How do you feel about being charged?

How did you feel about losing your job?

How do you feel about what happened at the subway?

Do you know about gangs in your neighbourhood?

How did you act when you were arrested? Did you cooperate with the police?

ALI SINGH, aCCUSED• thentheofficerpointedatyouandaskedthepersonintheraptor’sshirt

aquestionyoudidn’thear.s/heanswered,“that’shim/her–that’soneofthem.”

• officerlimarrestedyouandtookyoutothepolicestation.Youtoldhim/hereverythingthathappened.s/hesearchedthroughyourjacketandtookthemoneyyouhadonyou.Youwerechargedwiththeftunder$5000,assaultandutteringthreats.



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JAYMe WATSON, DEFEnCE wiTnESS

Your background:

• Youare16yearsold.

• Youwerechargedwithshopliftingonce,butyouthinkthechargesweredroppedafteryoucom-pletedanafter-schoolprogramlastyear.


• onsaturday,october19,youwentshoppingwithyoursister.shewantedtogotohMvtolookatsomecDs.therewasagreatsaleonnewreleasesatthestore,andyoudecidedtobuyamovieandacoupleofcDs.

• By3:15,youwerereadytogo,butyoursisterwantedtocontinueshopping.YouhungaroundthecDsection,prettybored,waitingforher.

• someonecameupbehindyouandtappedyouontheshoulder.Youturnedaroundtoseethisguy–youknewhim,butcouldn’tthinkofhisname.“heyJayme–ty”–hesaid.Yousaidhelloback,andthenrememberedmeetinghimacoupleoftimes,hangingoutwithyoursister’sboyfriend’sfriends.

• tylookedatyourshoppingbagandsuggestedyougobacktohishouseandwatchthemovieyouhadbought.Youdecidedyou’drathergotoyourplace;youdidn’tknowthisguythatwell.

• Yoursisterhadtopicksomethingsuponthewayhome,soyouandtydecidedtotakethesubway.

• whilewalkingdownDufferin,youmetupwithoneofyourgoodfriends,ali,whohadjustfin-ishedwork.aliagreedtocometowatchthemovie,too.





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JAYMe WATSON, DEFEnCE wiTnESS• Youwentintolawrenceweststation.ontheplatform,youtookthemovie

outofthebag,andstartedtoreadabouttheextrasandfeatures.tytookthebag,andwaslookingatthecDsyouhadbrought.alispottedsomeones/heknew,andwalkeddowntheplatform.

• afewmomentslater,youheardyelling.Youlookedup–bothtyandaliweredowntowardsthemiddleoftheplatform.Youfollowed.

• Youcouldn’treallyseewhatwasgoingon.tyandaliseemedtobepush-ingsomeotherpersonagainstthewall.Youdidn’tknowwhattodo.tywasyellingsomethinglike“givemeyourmoney!”–andaliwassayingsomethingtoo,butyoucouldn’treallyhear.

• then,tywasrunningbackuptheplatform.Youdidn’tknowwhatwasgo-ingon.Youweren’treallythinking,buthehadyourcDs,soyoujustranafterhim.Youcaughtuptohimonthestairs,andleftthestationatthesametime,butthenhejusttookoff.Youwerecallingouttohimandtryingtokeepup,butcouldn’t.

• Youdidn’tseewherealiwent.Youcalledyoursisterandaskedhertopickyouup.

• whenyougothome,youlookedforty’snumberoremailtogetyourcDsback,butcouldn’tfindit.Yoursister’sboyfriendsaidhehardlyknewhim,anddidn’tknowhowtogetintouchwithhim.

• Youwerecontactedlaterthatdaybythepolice,andinterviewedaboutwhathadhappenedontheplatform.Youwerereallysurprisedtolearnthatalihadbeenarrestedandcharged.

• Youhadbeenfriendswithaliforabout3years.s/heisfunnyandsmart,andhasneverbeenintrouble.Youseealotofhim/herinschoolandthesunsetDiner,whereyouandyourfriendsoftenwentoverthesummer,andafterschool.



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How do you feel about giving evidence at the trial?


How close are you with your friend Ali?


Did you cooperate with the police?

How well can you remember everything?

JAYMe WATSON, DEFEnCE wiTnESS



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OffICer DAKOTA LIM, arrESTing oFFiCEr & Crown wiTnESS

Your background:• Youare34years-old.

• Youhavebeenworkingasapoliceofficerfor7years.


• onsaturday,october19,youstartedyourshiftatnoon.

• atapproximately4:10,youreceivedacallaboutanincidentatthelawrencewestsubwaystation.Youwereveryclose,andarrivedatthestationveryquickly.

• Youenteredthestationandmotionedtothettcstaffinthebooth.helookedsurprisedtoseeyou.hecameoutofthebooth,andasked“canihelpyou?”

• Youtoldhimthatyouhadbeencalledaboutadisturbanceatthestation.thettcoperatorsaidhehadn’tnoticedorheardanythingunusual,butmotionedforyoutoheaddownthestairstotheplatform,saying“let’sseewhattheproblemis.”

• onthesouthboundplatform,youmetawomanwhosaidshehadcalledthepolicefromapayphoneontheplatform.

• shewasstandingwithtwoyoungpeople.oneofthemlookedkindofshaken.s/hegavehisnameasMorganKing.

• theotheryoungpersonsaidhis/hernamewasalisingh.s/helookedconfusedaboutwhyyouwerespeakingtohim.

• YousteppedasidewithMorgan.YouaskedMorganwhathappened.s/hedescribedbeingapproachedbythreepeople.s/hesaidthatone





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guywasveryaggressiveanddemandedmoney.Morgansaidthatthegrouphadagun,thattheypushedhim/heragainsttheplatformwall,madethreats,andstole$25.00andanipod.

• Morganpointedataliandsaid:“that’shim/her–that’soneofthem.”

• Youdidnotfindanipodoragunonalioronthepremisesofthesubwaysta-tion.

• Youarrestedaliandthensearchedali,andfound$25.00.alisaidthatthiswashis/hermoney,collectedastipsfromajobatadiner.aliwaschargedwiththeft(under$5000),assaultandutteringthreats.

• alistatedinhis/hersstatementthats/hewaswithtwootheryoungpeople,friendcalledJaymewatsonandayoungmannamedty(lastnameunknown)whentheincidentoccurred.

• Youinterviewedthettcoperator,whotoldyouthatsometimeinthelateafternoonthreekidscameintothestation.theywerelaughingprettyloudandseemedtobehavingagoodtime.thettcstaffsaidhewavedatoneofthem,ali,asaturdayregular.thettcoperatorsaidhelookedupoccasion-allyatthesecuritycamerasthatweremonitoringtheplatforms.therewaspicturebutnosound.atonepoint,hecouldseesomemovementonthesouthboundplatform.itlookedlikethekidswerehorsingaround.

• YouinterviewedMs.watsonlaterthatday.sheindicatedshewaspresentatthesubway,buthadnothingtodowithanyassaultortheft.

• neitheralinorJaymeknewhowtoreachty,ashewenttoadifferentschool.

Questions you should think about When preparing:what reason did you have for arresting Ali?

was Ali cooperative?

Is youth violence a problem in this neighbourhood?

OffICer DAKOTA LIM, arrESTing oFFiCEr & Crown wiTnESS



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MOrGAN KING, ViCTim anD Crown wiTnESS

Your background:

• Youare16yearsoldandingrade11.

• Youhavearecord(formischief)fromwhenyouwere13yearsold.


• onsaturday,october19,youmadeplanstomeetsomefriendsdowntown.Youwerethink-ingofseeingamovie,andmaybegettingsomepizza.Youlefthomealittlebefore4:00p.m.,with$25.00inyourpocket.

• Youwenttolawrencewestsubway,andwaitedonthesouthboundplatform.Youhadyourheadphonesonandwiththevolumeprettyhigh.

• Youwerethereonlyabout2or3minuteswhensuddenlythispersoncametowardsyouyellingandwavingtheirarmsround,pointingatyou.Youhadneverseenthembefore.s/hewasaver-ageheight,wearingagreenjacket.therewereanothercoupleofpeoplefollowinghim/her.Youtookyourheadphonesoffandasked“what’syourproblem?”

• thepersonmovedreallyclosetoyou.thesec-ondpersonwasrightbehindhim.Youhadtoputyourbackagainstthesubwaywall.Youwerescared,worriedtheyweregoingtodosome-thing.thesecondonewastalkingtothefirstoneinalowvoice,likes/hewasencouraginghim/herorsomething.Youcouldn’treallyhear.

• thepersonaskedsomethingaboutwhetheryouhadsomeone’smoney,aboutowingsomeonemoney.Yousaidyoudidn’tknowwhattheyweretalkingabout,andthatyoudidn’thaveanything.





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MOrGAN KING, ViCTim anD Crown wiTnESS• thenthepersonsaidthats/hehadawaytomakesurethatyougaveupyour

money.s/hewasrightinyourface.Youweretooscaredtosayanythingback.Youfeltsomeonegoingthroughyourpockets.Youfeltagunpressedagainstyourchest.Youcouldhardlybreathe.Youwerebackedagainstthewallandcouldn’treallymove.

• thensuddenly,theytookoff.Youstayedbythewall,tryingtocatchyourbreath.

• afewmomentslater,awomancameuptoyou.sheaskedifyouwereokay.Yousaidyeah,youthoughtso.Youreachedinyourpocketsandrealizedthatyourmoneyandyouripodweremissing.Youtoldthewomanwhathap-pened.

• whileyouwerespeakingtoher,yousawoneofthepeopleattheendoftheplatform,alone,bythestairs.Youpointedthisouttothewoman.

• thewomancalledthepolice.shetoldyoutherewouldbetheresoon,astheywereintheneighbourhood.afteracoupleofminutesshestartedtowalkclosertowardsthepersonwaitingbythestairs.Youfollowedher,slowly.

• thenyousawapoliceofficercomedownthestairs,followedbythettcop-eratorfromthebooth.

• thepoliceofficersaidhis/hernamewasofficerlim,andaskedyouwhathap-pened,andyoutoldthesamethingyoutoldthewoman.officerlimaskedifthepersonontheplatformwasinvolved.Yousaid“that’shim/her–that’soneofthem.”

• officerlimarrestedtheperson.Youhadtogotothepolicestationtogiveastatementaboutwhathappened,andtodescribethepeoplewhohadat-tackedyou.

• Youhavenoideawhyyouwerebeingaskedaboutmoney.Youhadneverseenanyofthepeoplewhocameuptoyouinthesubwaybefore.



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How do you feel about giving evidence at the trial?



Did you cooperate with the police?

How do you feel about the guys who attacked you?

How well can you remember everything?

MOrGAN KING, ViCTim anD Crown wiTnESS


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court clerkpleaserefertotheCriminal Mock Trial Role Preparation Package whenpreparingthisrole.inthatpackageyouwillfindascriptandotherinstructions.

inordertoreadthecharge(s)totheaccused,youwillneedtoinserttheparticu-larsoftheaccusedandthecharge(s)assetoutintheinformation(includedinthispackage)intoyourscript.

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CRIMINAL LAw MOCk TRIAL: r. v. singh - OJEN