A GROUP of Herefordshire high school students has appeared in Hereford Magistrates' Court over a ‘knife case’.

But there was no cause for shock and alarm as more than 90 pupils fought out their arguments in front of the Bench as part of the 2018 Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition.

High school teams from across the county took on the roles of defendant, magistrates, lawyers and court staff in this annual competition run in partnership by the Citizenship Foundation and the competition organisers.

Local dignitaries attending the high profile student event included Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Lady Darnley, Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC, Honorary Recorder of Hereford, the county’s High Sheriff, the Rev Lady Lisvane and her husband, Chief Steward of Hereford, Lord Lisvane, Herefordshire Council chairman Councillor Brian Wilcox and deputy mayor of Hereford, Councillor Sue Bolton. A presentation ceremony was led by Paul Deneen.

Preparation for the event began months ago, with JP Mrs Leigh Brazewell co-ordinating the competition and working with schools all over Herefordshire.

“The mock-trials were played for real and brought to life the serious consequences of taking a knife out in public. The students put in huge amounts of work and learned a lot in the process. We’re really proud of them,” she said.

Their brief was to enact a court case scenario in which the defendant stood accused of knife possession. Without a script, the 12 – 14-year-olds performed role play with other teams. Winners were Fairfield High School, Peterchurch, with Whitecross Academy taking second place. Earl Mortimer College, Leominster, Kingstone Academy, Aylestone High School, Hereford and Wigmore High Schools also fielded teams.

Local magistrates helped the teams prepare by visiting schools, and hosting court visits. Some students also took part in a court reporter and a court artist competition. Fairfield school now goes through to regional semi-finals which will take place in Wiltshire this May, and qualifiers go through to the national final at Birmingham’s Victoria Law Courts in June.