Mock trial - Rochdale Magistrates Court

Members of the audience with court officers following the mock trial at Rochdale Magistrates Court

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Members of the public were treated to a fascinating insight as they watched a mock trial in Court Number One at Rochdale Magistrates Court. The mock trial was set up as part of the Heritage Open Days running this weekend.

In court, a defendant ‘Mrs Robinson’ was accused of stealing a bottle of vodka, valued at £11.99, from a supermarket.

The prosecution outlined the case against Mrs Robinson, that she has knowingly and with intent taken the vodka without intending to pay and without intending to return the vodka.

‘Witnesses’ were called, first up was the store detective who spotted Mrs Robinson acting suspiciously. He gave evidence that he saw Mrs Robinson slip the bottle of vodka into her right pocket with her right hand and walk out of the store avoiding the tills and without paying. He followed Mrs Robinson outside, stopped her and escorted her back to the security office where he called the police.

The witness was questioned by the defence and admitted that the defendant did not make any attempt to run away and had seem confused, pale and distracted.

The second witness for the prosecution, a security guard who was called by the store detective to assist, gave evidence as did the police officer who attended. Both were questioned by the defence.

It was then the defendant’s turn on the stand and the defence solicitor gently questioned her about the circumstances of the day. Mrs Robinson admitted being in the supermarket, admitted having the bottle of vodka, but denied stealing it on the grounds that she was distracted and unaware of what she had done due to being under severe stress at the time – her father was dying and in hospital and the court heard he did die the following day. She insisted she was left-handed so would not have used her right hand, she did not like or drink vodka and she had enough money to buy three bottles of vodka so had no reason to steal.

Mrs Robinson was questioned by the prosecution who put to her that she was using her father’s death to try and evade prosecution for stealing the vodka.

Mrs Robinson broke down in tears and, having used court tissues to dry her eyes and blow her nose, sobbed that it was a “horrid thing to say”.

The magistrates, who included volunteer members of the public from the audience, then had the opportunity to ask questions of the defendant and one observantly noted she claimed to be left-handed but was using her right hand to blow her nose!

The defence then summed up before the magistrates retired to consider the evidence and decide their verdict.

Whilst waiting for their return, a ‘real’ magistrate explained that there would normally be three magistrates, not the two sets of three from members of the audience at the mock trial.

He then asked for a show of hands for those who felt the woman was guilty and around 60% of those present did think she was guilty.

The magistrates returned, the first set, all members of the audience, found her not guilty and gave their reasons, again it was explained this was just for the purpose of the mock trial and would not normally happen, as being she was not of a sound mind due to undue stress. The second set of magistrates, which included a member of the audience alongside a real magistrate and a court usher, found the woman guilty on the grounds she was lying about being left-handed and she could not have been that confused if she had worked out how to get out avoiding the tills.

The trial over, those present were then invited down to see the stark cells beneath the court and the interview rooms.

Notes: Magistrates are unpaid volunteers and Rochdale has around 180 who give their time to serve the community in this way.

Though reporters can be present in court no photographs are normally allowed to be taken.

Prisoners coming up from the cells are handcuffed to two officers who must negotiate the steep narrow stairs to the court room.

Rochdale has six courts, three of which have stairs directly from the cells below.