mock+trial1

8-2 Step Mock Trial

Cross Examination - Tracy Ferris Witness - Examination


 * __Direct – Lee Dubois, Parent of Jesse Dubois__**

Q. What is your name and relation to Jesse Dubious? //A. I am Lee Dubois.//

Q. What is your relation to Jesse Dubois? //A. I am Jesse's mother/father.//

Q. How many children do you have? //A. We have four children in all and Jesse is our oldest.//

Q. Where do you live in relation to the Mortis County Cemetery? //A. We live five blocks from the cemetery.//

Q. How do you feel about Jesse’s behavior as your oldest child? //A. We are very proud of him/her.//

Q. What is your family like? //A. We are a very open and trusting family. We believe in our children and have no reason to believe that Jesse, Pat, and Shelby were up too any mischief that night.//

Q. How do your children behave? //They obey and are nice, good kids. They don’t fight or argue or get into trouble. All of our children have good grades and have no behavior problems. I’ve never received a phone call from school complaining about any of our children.//

Q. What was Jesse doing the afternoon of the crime? //A. He had been at the cemetery that afternoon helping Pat with a project for school.//

Q. What are some things that Jesse has done for Pat in the past? //A. Jesse has been very supportive in helping Pat find direction and that is another reason why we are so proud of Jesse.//

Q. How did you feel about the afternoon trip to the cemetery? //A. We were aware of the trip and approved of it. I think history is important and our children should learn from the past and respect it. I was delighted that the three of them were taking such an interest in local history.//

Q. What time did they return from the cemetery that afternoon? //A. I’m not sure what time they returned from the cemetery that afternoon. Pat and Shelby were coming over for the evening to watch television and hang out in our basement.//

Q. What time did Shelby arrive? //A. About 8:00 pm.//

Q. How do you feel about Shelby? //A. Shelby is a wonderful child - so bright and outgoing.//

Q. What did Shelby do then? //A. Shelby and I chatted for a bit about the scholarship Shelby had been awarded and then Shelby and Jesse went to the basement family room and I heard the television set go on.//

Q. When did Pat arrive? //A. He arrived around 9:00 pm or so.//

Q. How did Pat act? //A. He was very polite and sweet, thanking me for letting him/her come over for the evening.//

Q. What did Jesse, Pat, and Shelby do next? //A. At 9:15 the kids ordered a pizza. My husband and I approved to Pat and Shelby sleeping over.//

//A. We called down to the basement later in the evening to see if the kids needed anything else and Jesse said no, they were great. They were laughing and having fun. Then, we said goodnight and locked the house and went upstairs to our bedroom.//
 * Hearsay** Q. When was the next time you heard from them in the basement?

Q. What time did you stay up until? //A. I stayed up until about midnight reading. I heard an occasional laugh from the basement. I am confident they were there. I just can’t imagine that they could have sneaked out. I would have senses something. As mentioned, I was up until midnight or a little before and I know I heard them laughing and the television set.//

Q. How do you usually sleep? A. Well I am a light speeper.

Q. Did you hear anything weird in the night? A. A noise //woke me so I went downstairs to check, and they were all sprawled in the basement, sleeping soundly.//

//A. I came downstairs and it was quiet in the kitchen. Jesse was there but the others weren't.
 * Hearsay** Q. What occurred in the morning?

Q. What does Pat usually do in the morning? A. Pat has a job, and he might have needed some sleep before going to work. That wasn't unusual.

Q. What has Shelby done now? A. Pleaded guilty and has reached an agreement with the State's Attorney that will probably wipe the slate clean.

Q. Do you have any idea why he/she might have done that? A. I don't know why Shelby did that. I think Shelby was afraid of losing that scholarship and decided to admit to anything in order to keep it. After all, what's community service and six months of good behavior in exchange for a college scholarship?

Q. How do you feel about Pat and Jesse's innocence? A. Well, I am a responsible parent. I am responsible enough to know that our child was in our home on the night this hapenned. I think any __reasonable__ person would believe these kids and understand that their was just a horrible misunderstanding.//