The Faculty of Law, in partnership with South African legal publishing house Juta, hosted the annual Mock Trial competition on 17 and 18 August at the Mahikeng High Court.

 

The members of the winning team are second-year law students Orabile Boikanyo, Gugu Msomi, Teboho Madibo and Karabo Dikhuba. They laid down the law for the other seven groups of second- and third-year students from the three NWU campuses who made it to the semi-finals of the competition.

 

Making a good case

 

Appearing as the defence, the Mahikeng team secured their win by casting doubt on the events as described by a state witness who claimed she was assaulted when her husband grabbed and hit her after a night of drinking.

Appearing on behalf of the state in the finals were third-year students from the campus in Potchefstroom - Yudians Phoku, Simbongile Siyali, Danny Hlapolosa and Duduzile Dube.

 

The Juta Mock Trial competition is the brainchild of Adv René Koraan, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law on the campus in Potchefstroom. She sees it as an opportunity for second- and third-year students to gain much-needed courtroom experience.

 

Staying on the right side of the law

 

Prof Stephen de la Harpe, executive dean of the Faculty of Law, says more than 300 students across the campuses registered for the competition this year.

 

“It is an opportunity to foster a passion for the law and bring students from all campuses together.”After announcing the winners, the presiding officer, High Court Judge Tebogo Djaje, said it was amazing that students were able to prepare and address judges on cases. “This is often only expected from practising attorneys.

 

“It speaks to the quality of education they receive at their institution, and I hope to see these young people arguing real cases in court soon.”