Year 9 goes to Court

September 20th, 2016

Ninety-two students from Year 9 participated in an excursion, organised by the Humanities and Social Science department to the Francis Burt Law Education Centre located in the old colonial courthouse adjacent to the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

The students participated in activities to support their learning about the legal system in WA. In one of the activities in the old courthouse, students participated in a mock trial based on a case involving a one-punch assault leading to bodily harm, where the accused was pleading not guilty on the basis of self-defence. Each student had a role in the court room and a script. At the end of the trial the students had to decide whether the defendant was guilty or not guilty. This practical activity was to help students to understand the court process in Western Australia.

The other main activity was sitting in the public gallery of a trial conducted in the Perth District Court. Over two days, the students, in four separate groups saw trials on charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and burglary, and also a sentencing hearing of man who pled guilty to arson in the Perth Hills. The gravity of the trials that students were witnessing brought home the force of the law and sparked an interest that led to numerous discussions about criminal law.

The Year 9s had a great day learning about the legal system during their visit to the courts in Perth and were commended on their good behaviour.

Sol Hanna, HaSS teacher