As part of the “Teen Law” course at the Paynesville Area High School, students must plan the defense and offense of a court case and conduct a mock trial.They retried Lizzie Borden. “The students kept all the essential elements the same as the original trial, but added modern detective techniques,” Youngs said.
Attorneys for the defense, pictured, were Leah Bertram, Michelle Lahr, Tracey Stang and DeAnn Neuroth. An advisor for the defense was attorney Ross Amundson.
Acting as the prosecution’s attorneys were Anne Nelson, Nikki Hemmesch and Sara Spanier and helping advise the state prosecutors plan their case was attorney Nancy Landmark.
Serving as the jury were: Walt and Rosemary Dilley, Joyce Spaulding, Marie Lauer, Conrad Patsch, Jim McCalmant and John Atwood.
“Even after all these years, the court was still not able to find Lizzie Borden guilty. The jury presented a unanimous verdict of “not guilty,” Youngs said.
Youngs served as the court judge for the mock trial.