Mock Trial: The People vs. Jack Merridew
Bailiff: Silence in the court! All rise! All persons having business be for the Honorable Judge Schenk, the Supreme Court of Britain, are admonished to draw near and give their attention, for the court is now in session. Calling the matter of the people versus Jack Merridew in the charges of attempted murder in the 1st degree, manslaughter in the 1st degree, and manslaughter in the 2nd degree.
Judge: Very well. Please be seated. How does the defendant plea?
Defense: Not guilty, your honor.
Judge: Very well. We will begin with the opening statements. Ms Alli, if you please. Defense: Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. The night of Simon's death the boys were having a party to celebrate Jack's new tribe, and their successful hunt. They were in the middle of a ceremonial dance, and chant when a dark shape stumbled out of the forest screaming. The boys had recently gone to the top of the mountain and thought they saw the beast. So when a dark shape came out of the forest, they thought it was the beast. They became scared and in self defense attacked the shape. It ran and started screaming, but the gathering had turned to chaos so they couldn’t hear what it was saying. They chased it to the shore of the beach, and used spears to kill it.
Jack was only with his tribe for couple of days, and he didn’t mention to any of his group to kill anyone from Ralph’s tribe. He wouldn’t have been able to plan a murder in such a short time. There was no reason for him to want to kill Simon, he seldom spoke and never really defied jack, and he wasn’t a threat like Ralph.
He didn’t mention harming anyone, his tribe just gotten a pig and they were celebrating. It was an innocent party, it was night and they could not see when Simon ran out of the forest. They killed him because they thought he was the beast, they were confused; it could not have been a pre-planned murder.
When Piggy was killed