Acquitted of MURDER: Mock Trial Team prevails against Cloquet
On Friday, January 10th, the Cambridge-Isanti Mock Trial Team met at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth to face off against Cloquet for the first round of this year’s Mock Trial season.
In Mock Trial, teams have to learn the facts and perspectives from both sides of the case, with attorneys and witnesses performing both sides. They then have to build their cases, learn the courtroom rules, practice and memorize the case, and compete against each other, asserting their view of the case in a battle of performance and wits. This is like a real jury trial, with both teams aiming to persuade the jury of the defendant’s innocence or guilt.
State of Minnesota v. Koren Noble, the case celebrating the 40th anniversary of High School Mock Trial, features a suspicious death in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) surrounded by mystery and intrigue. The story of the case is as follows:
Koren Noble (Portrayed by Averee O’Leary), Founder and CEO of Medical biotechnologies company “Dembones,” was taking a trip with two of her investors and a marketing team member when tragedy struck.
After an injury left Noble alone with Addison Rogers-Nelson, one of her most valuable investors, the two set up camp at Campsite #1984. As the two settle in, Rogers-Nelson begins to drink, exhausted by traversing the rugged terrain of the BWCA. Koren and Addison discuss how the company is working to submit to the FDA, but there have been complications that mean he will likely not see a return on investment for several more years. Enraged, Addison argues with Noble, drunkenly yelling before storming off.
Image Description: The logo of Koren Noble’s biotechnology company “Dembones.” Representing the work the company does in researching treatments for spinal stenosis, the ‘S’ has red ridges, representing the vertebral column, with small dots denoting the spinal screws that treat spinal stenosis.
That night, BWCA local and Prosecution Casey Williston (Portrayed by Xavier Stevens) hears two voices having an argument coming from the campsite before suddenly going quiet. Dead quiet.
The following day, Wilderness Ranger and Defense witness Kit Carson (Portrayed by Alice Heine) discovers the deceased body of Rogers-Nelson half submerged in the water, a deep gash in the right side of his head. As she attests to in her direct, she quickly alerted authorities, believing the death to be a tragic accident, and had to leave the scene to provide first aid to an injured camper elsewhere in the BWCA.
Image Description: Exhibit #6: a map of the BWCA, zoomed into points of interest on Disappointment Lake. The locations marked are “CAMPSITE #1984”, where Koren Noble and Addison Rogers-Nelson were staying; “WILLISTON CABIN,” the residence of a BWCA local who overheard sounds of arguing on the night of the incident; and “BODY FOUND,” where Rogers-Nelson’s body was ultimately discovered on June 11th. In the trial, both teams used enlarged demonstrative versions of this exhibit.
Reagan Vott, investigator and Prosecution witness (Portrayed by Kaden Kaar), is called in to investigate. After examining the body and surrounding area, they investigated Campsite #1984, finding it in complete disarray. While searching the area, Koren Noble paddles back to the campsite, quickly turning from smiling to anxious and fidgety as Vott questions her. Noble appears to react with shock and horror when Vott informs her of Rogers-Nelson’s death. On the cross-examination of the investigator, Ainsley Doom was able to seriously call into question the thoroughness of Vott’s investigation, pointing out crucial elements of reasonable doubt.
The body is sent to be analyzed under the expert eye of one Dr. Andy Baxter, Assistant Medical Examiner and Prosecution witness (Portrayed by Mary Balthazor), who rules the death a homicide. Her findings conclude that the laceration in Rogers-Nelson’s head could not have been from something found in nature. Her results also show that the wound had fibers in it that indicate the murder weapon was a canoe paddle. She tests the paddles seized from the Dembones group by Investigator Vott, but none match. Curiously, though, Noble claims to have lost her paddle, and nothing was found near the scene. Ultimately, no definitive murder weapon can be found.
Alex Budnick, BWCA outfitter and Defense witness (Portrayed by Max Godeen), additionally testified to the BWCA’s hostility and the brash unpreparedness of the decedent, Addison Rogers-Nelson, on direct examination. He navigated the dangerous waters of cross-examination, not allowing the Prosecution a single inch to reach their case.
On Friday, as the teams went head-to-head, attorneys and witnesses had to think on their feet as they thought of ways to refute, object, and subvert the other team’s strategy. On Friday, the Prosecution presented that the defendant had means, motive, and a missing paddle. At the same time, the Defense spoke of the unforgiving nature of the wilderness and about how a lack of preparation and respect for it can be deadly.
Koren Noble, the defendant, elegantly demonstrated her acting prowess and grace under pressure. Her performance, in combination with an impassioned closing statement from Ainsley Doom, clinched the victory for Cambridge-Isanti. While the State (Prosecution) tried to find Noble guilty, the Defense ultimately prevailed.
Coach Micheal Galligan said about the victory: “Our team prepared hard and went toe-to-toe against a very good Cloquet team, and they didn’t back down. It was very fun to watch them take them on head-to-head and come out on top.”
Averee’s performance of Koren Noble was awarded Outstanding Witness by the Cloquet team. Ainsley Doom, the team captain and lead student attorney, was awarded Outstanding Attorney.
In Round 2 this Thursday, the Bluejacket team will go against St. Cloud Tech at the Wright County Courthouse in Buffalo. The C-I team will be representing the Prosecution.
