Collyer’s A-level Law students got a taste for crime scene investigation at a two day mock CSI event held at the college and Horsham Magistrates court this week. A crime scene was staged and then students worked in defence and prosecution teams to assess the credibility of the evidence and establish a case, which was then mocked up as a trial before a judge at the Magistrates court. Students adopted the roles of legal teams, court usher and the jury; a packed gallery of Collyer’s students supported the action from the sidelines. The defendant was played by volunteer Simon Packham, who has previously appeared as a similar character in the popular TV series The Bill!

The event was given further authenticity by the help of a host of top professionals from this arena. These included PC Keith Beckley, Acting Detective Sergeant Graham Leaney and Magistrates Mary Hamilton and Carole Hayward. Andrew Wimbush (Witness Care), Emma Thomas from Elementus, KPMG’s Simon Bush, Ian Mathews (Deputy Justice Clerk), Mark de Salis (Legal Team Manager) also helped to put the students through their paces in preparation for the mock trial. 

Magistrate Carole Hayward, who conducted the mock trial on the final day, was impressed with the high standard of work: “The legal teams were extremely well prepared and have clearly concentrated hard in their first year of A-level Law classes. The students’ cross examination of the defendant was particularly impressive. The student jury went for an acquittal, but it was close!” 

The winning legal team comprised Ashna Hurynag, Miles Fowler, Georgie Box and Adam Copley. Ashna Hurynag was thrilled to present a case in a real courtroom: “It’s a dream. If you’re into football you want to play in a stadium. If you love Law, you want to perform in court. We worked really hard to prepare for today. It was bigger than a World Cup Final for us!”  

Sarah Hawen, who teaches Law and helped to co-ordinate the event said: “Collyer’s worked closely with Madeleine Mills and the brilliant team at Education Business Link to put this event together. We are delighted that it really gave the students a taste of what life as a professional lawyer or law enforcer could be like.”

Head of Law at Collyer’s, Helen Mayer-Dean, was also delighted: “The trial was extremely realistic and I was struck by the shear professionalism of the students and volunteers. We would like to thank Horsham Magistrates Court and our special guests for their kind support. Roll on next year!”