Mock+Trial-+Closing+Arguement

1.) Start with saying what they considered fun and crimes trying to prove 2.) Vandalism of a Cemetary, Class 3 3.) Criminal Defacement 4.) Criminal Trespass 5.) On Purpose 6.) Conclusion**
 * Closing Organizer:


 * May, I proceed Your Honor?**

Good Evening Your Honor,

What these kids thought was harmless fun, turned out to be a crime that destroyed the memories of the dead that you can never get back, no matter how hard you try. In destroying these monuments, they showed they have no concern for anyone but themselves. In addition, lying about these crimes is not taking responsibility for them. Jesse Dubois and Pat Dowling are the ones who vandalized the Mortis County Cemetery during the night and early morning of September 28th and 29th. Your Honor, we have proven that these crimes have been committed and we ask that you find the defendants guilty.

Any person who willfully and knowingly obliterates, vandalizes, or injuries 5 but not more than 10 gravestones is guilty of a Vandalism of a Cemetery, a Class 3 Felony. Each of the markers on the Forensics Report has damage. 3 of the 10 damaged monuments had footprints around or smeared on to the monument consistent with the two defendants, and 4 others had fingerprints on them consistent with the two defendants. Cullom testified that it was Jesse and Pat’s idea to sneak into the cemetery after dark, and that the three of them were there after hours, and that they had wiped of the mud from their shoes. 6 of the monuments on the filed forensics' report had mud smeared on them, also the footprints around the monuments were consistent of the two defendants. This proves that at least 6 of the 10 gravestones had been damaged in this sort of way, which makes it a Class 3 Felony. If Jesse and Pat had gone in the daytime and they had left tracks and fingerprints from their first visit, so wouldn't the foot and fingerprints have been washed away by the rain? They weren’t because they were made that night. The rain had come earlier during and after the daytime visit. Jesse Dubois has even admitted it in his/her own testimony.

A person commits the offense of criminal defacement of property when he or she knowingly damages, defaces, or deforms property by the use of paint or any similar substance that exceeds $300. There is only one substance in this case that can be considered as part of this charge, the mud found on some of the monuments. If the use of paint can be considered Criminal Defacement and other substances can be too, such as highlighter, and so can mud. Mud and paint are similar because they can smeared on and they can stay on an object until washed away by water. As stated before, 6 of 10 gravestones had been smeared with mud either on the face, top, or back of the monument, those had been defaced. All together, with all the monuments that had been smeared with mud, the total damage equals a grand total of $1000. This clearly exceeds $300. These defendants are guilty of Criminal Defacement.

Lastly, a person is guilty of Criminal Trespass to a cemetery, a person is guilty of when he/she knowingly enters or remains in it when it is posted as closed to the public. Not only id it just common sense that the cemetery was closed at the dead of night, but the hours were also posted clearly at the main enterance. There had to have been a reason why they had not gone through the main entrance.

There is convincing evidence that all of these crimes were committed knowingly and willfully. The crime was pre-planned by the defendants. They chose a remote location so no one would witness them entering and leaving. The gate had been locked, meaning that the cemetery did not want anyone to enter through that gate. Yet the three minors had gone through the gate anyways. When the kids were caught, they ran instead of walked. They did not want anyone to know that they were the ones committing the crimes. Also the remarkable coincidence that they all got together at Jesse’s house and were in the same room, probably discussing their plans to sneak into the cemetery after hours where there were no witnesses, dark outside, and they were ready to run for the easy to climb walk-in-gate where there are NO posted hours.

Your honor, Jesse Dubois and Pat Dowling should be found guilty of these crimes and there should be severe penalties. There is wrong in destroying the commemoration of a deceased person. We should preserve the memories of deceased people and cherish their accomplishments, not disturb their rest and destroy their gravestones.


 * Thank You, Your Honor.**