Personal Narrative: Two High School Crimes
Scenario 1: Two high school boys get into an argument after school. Jim, an African American honor student, punches Joe a Caucasian student who is known for bullying the other students at his school. After Jim punches Joe, Joe hits his head on a concrete sidewalk, inflicting severe head trauma. Two days later, Joe dies. Classify this crime as a murder.
Hint: You’re Jim’s lawyer
Scenario 2: Mr. Thomson, a 50-year-old math teacher, was on his way home when one of his students, 17-year-old Brian, accuses Mr. Thomas of being racist. Brian claims that Mr. Thomas gave him a failing grade because he’s black, and Mr. Thomas is white. A few minutes later, a high school student found Mr. Thomas dead in his car at the school’s parking lot. The state
is charging Brian with manslaughter.
Hint: You’re Brian’s lawyer
Scenario 3: Maria, a 19-year-old mother, told her friend Sharon that she called 911 last night because her 40-year-old husband was threatening to kill her. She said her husband even showed her the gun he was going to use, and then he showed her the bullet. Her husband pushed the bullet hard against her forehead and said, "It's going right through there." Maria says that the police officer that came to the house didn't speak very good Spanish, and since Maria doesn't speak any English, she doesn't think the officer understood most of what she was saying. She says her husband just kept telling the police, "She's crazy, she's crazy," and it seemed like the officer believed him. Maria says the officer didn't arrest the man or take his gun out of the house. Two days later, Maria’s body was found in a garbage bin. Maria’s husband is being charged with premeditated murder.
Hint: You’re the Husband’s lawyer
Hint: You’re Jim’s lawyer
Scenario 2: Mr. Thomson, a 50-year-old math teacher, was on his way home when one of his students, 17-year-old Brian, accuses Mr. Thomas of being racist. Brian claims that Mr. Thomas gave him a failing grade because he’s black, and Mr. Thomas is white. A few minutes later, a high school student found Mr. Thomas dead in his car at the school’s parking lot. The state
is charging Brian with manslaughter.
Hint: You’re Brian’s lawyer
Scenario 3: Maria, a 19-year-old mother, told her friend Sharon that she called 911 last night because her 40-year-old husband was threatening to kill her. She said her husband even showed her the gun he was going to use, and then he showed her the bullet. Her husband pushed the bullet hard against her forehead and said, "It's going right through there." Maria says that the police officer that came to the house didn't speak very good Spanish, and since Maria doesn't speak any English, she doesn't think the officer understood most of what she was saying. She says her husband just kept telling the police, "She's crazy, she's crazy," and it seemed like the officer believed him. Maria says the officer didn't arrest the man or take his gun out of the house. Two days later, Maria’s body was found in a garbage bin. Maria’s husband is being charged with premeditated murder.
Hint: You’re the Husband’s lawyer