The Canadian Bar Association is hosting a free public awareness presentation of a criminal jury trial for Law Week 2014.

A mock trial – You Be The Jury – will be staged Thursday, April 10, 7 p.m. at Key City Theatre in Cranbrook.

Members of the audience have the opportunity to be jurors as local members of the justice system present a ‘real life’ trial.

This year’s presentation is a charge of attempted murder. The accused is Joe Hewitt, a woodcutter. He is charged with attempting to kill Cain I. Slupus (who happened to be in Grandma’s house, smoking some of her marijuana, cross dressing in her nightgown) with a chainsaw. He’s going to run a ‘Not Criminally Responsible by Reason of Mental Disorder’ defence, just for a twist.

Actors are volunteers from the court registry staff, a couple of real sheriffs, an RCMP officer, local Crown counsel and members of the defence and civil litigation bar playing the part of the Judge, Court Clerk, prosecutor, young defence lawyer, witnesses Scarlett Crimsoncloak, Grandma’s granddaughter and ‘Wilbur Potbelly,’ the woodcutter’s mushroom picking friend who lives in a tent in the Community Forest.

A special addition this year are cell tours at the courthouse from 5 to 6 p.m. before the show. In addition, the accused will be transported to ‘court’ at Key City in shackles.

During the time that the Jury is considering its verdict, the audience will discuss their views of the case. Is Hewitt guilty or not guilty?

For further information, check out the Canadian Bar Association website and link to Law Week, 2014 –https://cbabc.org/LawWeek/Home

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