Mock Trial

Opening

Introduction

Introduction

Good morning, Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. We represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and thank you for your time. My name is Shardul Garg and along with my co-counsels (Elizabeth Chung, & WIll Bernal), we will present to you the catastrophe that was the murder of Geoffrey Esper. 

MMO.

As we progress through this trial, I want you to remember this. There are THREE components to a crime: means, motive, and opportunity. We are dealing with TWO charges: first-degree murder and conspiracy. And there is ONE person to be held responsible: Addison Booker. 

Charges

Addison Booker, the defendant, planned and solicited the violent murder of a local company owner and rival competitor, Geoffrey Esper. For the sake of bringing justice to this untimely death, you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have been summoned to determine Addison Booker's guilt on two counts: conspiracy and first-degree murder. Proving the charge of conspiracy will prove the charge of murder as well. Now, I will tell you of the events that brought us to this tragedy. 

Story

Our story begins in the small town of Wisawe, where 3 restaurant owners: Addison Booker, Sam Chestnut, and the most successful of the bunch, Geoffrey Esper are in constant competition with each other. As luck would have it, in Early April, Esper would find himself with a huge lottery win. While Esper’s business, the Hole in the Wall, continued to rise, Booker’s business, Onomotopizza, would be in decline due to personal setbacks like a devastating deck fire, causing Booker to be jealous of her competition. Booker’s envy over Esper’s success would only combine with anger as on May 1st, Esper would buy the lease of her restaurant, and on May 15th, would hand her an eviction notice. Now, instead of serving Italian food to her customers, a furious Booker driven by vengeance would serve Esper a malicious death sentence. On May 23rd, she would pay her accomplice Randy Sudo, a $12k sum to perform the horrific murder of Mr. Esper.

Pros Witnesses

Testimonies from three Wisawe locals will provide further details of these events:

Kobayashi

First will be Detective Jayden Kobayashi a seasoned investigator, armed with extensive evidence-handling expertise will show you the means: the gun that shot the deceased, discovered alongside an Onomotapizza business card, scribbled on the back numbers matching the security code that unlocked Esper’s office. Further, Kobayashi will tell you about Booker’s jealousy-driven legal pursuits against Esper.

Lesco

Next will be Robin Lesco, an experienced Wisawe food critic, and journalist, will show you the motive, through Booker’s consistent hostility towards Esper. Lesco will recall Booker’s repeated online attacks against Esper, her despair and tension following his lottery win, and her business setbacks, all pushing them to the breaking point. 

Chestnut

Finally, we will present Sam Chestnut, the owner of a rival business,  Sam's Old Town Tavern, who will show you the opportunity available to Booker. His testimony will reveal: the confessions he heard from the killer, Randy Sudo, and various encounters between Booker and Sudo that marked the arrangement of Esper’s vicious slaughter.  

Defense Witnesses

The defense witnesses will also shed light on Booker’s true actions. Pookey Thomas will reaffirm the anger and despair Booker felt given their eviction. From Phoenix Webb, you will hear about Booker’s uncontrollable anger and reasons for jealousy. Lastly, the accused, Addison Booker, will try to play the victim, flipping the narrative of this case for their benefit.

Smokes + Mirrors

The defense will attempt to obscure these facts with smoke and mirrors, with a facade of emotions and misdirection. They may attempt to feign ignorance and innocence with an emotional appeal to cloud your judgment and hide the real party at guilt. When they do so, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I want you to remember the three things I mentioned at the beginning of this story. Means, motive, and opportunity.

MMO End.

We have laid out to you the means: the gun and business card found after searching Sudo’s apartment. The motive: an increasingly long feud that turned its source from business to a deeply ingrained vendetta by an angry and upset Booker. And the opportunity that went by the name of Randy Sudo. Addison Booker will meet all three.

End

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bears the burden of proof in this case, meaning that it falls on us to prove that Addison Booker is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Not only will we meet this burden, we will exceed it. By the end of this trial, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, urge you to find Addison Booker guilty.