Jayden’s Story:
A Mischief Scenario
Scenario
Jayden is a 16-year-old Indigenous youth who lives in a small community. One afternoon after school, Jayden and a group of friends were hanging out near the community centre. Out of boredom, they started throwing rocks to see who could throw the farthest.
During the game, Jayden picked up a larger rock and threw it with force. The rock went off course and smashed through one of the community centre’s windows. The glass shattered inside the building, startling people who were using the space at the time. Although no one was physically injured, the centre had to close for the rest of the day, disrupting scheduled programs and activities.
The police were called to the scene. After speaking to staff and witnesses, officers confirmed that Jayden had thrown the rock. Jayden admitted to throwing it but insisted he did not mean to cause damage. He explained that it was part of the game they were playing and that the broken window was an accident.
Jayden has now been charged with mischief under $5,000 for damaging the property.
The Crown will argue that Jayden is responsible for his actions, regardless of whether he meant to break the window, and that his behaviour showed carelessness with community property. The Defence will argue that Jayden did not intend to cause harm, that it was an accident during a game with friends, and that his actions should be viewed as thoughtless rather than criminal.
Roles in the Courtroom
Jayden – The student accused of breaking the window.
Jayden’s Defence Lawyer(s) – The defence lawyer’s job is to tell Jayden’s side of the story in the courtroom. Multiple people can be in this role.
Crown Lawyer(s) – The Crown lawyer works for the community and the government. Their job is to try to prove that the accused person did break the law. Multiple people can be in this role.
Police Officer Sam (Crown Witness) – A police officer witness is a police officer who comes to court to tell what they saw or did in the case. They might explain how they investigated what happened.
M. White Community Centre Staff Member (Crown Witness) – Who works at the Community Centre where the window broke.
Tyler Jayden’s Friend (Defence Witness) – Who was there when Jayden was throwing rocks.
M. Lee Community Centre Youth Teacher (Defence Witness) – Who knows Jayden and has taught programs with them before.
Court Clerk - The court clerk is the judge’s helper. They say “All rise” when the judge comes in and swear in all the wtinesses.
Jury - The jury is a group of regular people from the community. They sit together in court and listen carefully to the trial. Multiple roles.
Courtroom Artist(s) - A courtroom artist is someone who draws pictures of what happens in court because cameras are not allowed in Canadian courtrooms. The artist helps people see what it looked like by sketching the judge, lawyers, witnesses, and the accused.
The Public - The public means regular people who come to watch a trial. They might be family, friends, reporters, or anyone interested. The public does not talk or take part in the trial. Their job is to listen quietly and respectfully. Having the public watch helps make sure the trial is open and fair. Anyone without an assigned role.
The Evidence
Below is all the Evidence or the “Disclosure” in your Mock Trial Scenario.
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Jayden explained that he and his friends were throwing rocks near the community centre after school to see who could throw the farthest. He admitted that one of his throws went off course and hit a large window, shattering the glass. Jayden said he was shocked and scared when the window broke, and he immediately worried he would be in trouble. He insisted that he never meant to break the window or damage the building; he was just playing around like the rest of his friends. Jayden said he now feels embarrassed and guilty, especially since his actions caused the centre to close early and disrupted people’s day.
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Officer Sam was called to the community centre after staff reported that a window had been smashed. When the officer arrived, they observed a large broken window facing the outdoor play area. While the glass had shattered across the floor, fortunately no one inside was injured. Officer Sam spoke to Jayden and several of his friends. Jayden admitted that he was the one who threw the rock that broke the window. Staff confirmed that the community centre had to close early because of the damage. Based on the statements and the evidence, Officer Sam charged Jayden with mischief under $5,000 for damaging property.
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Ms. White was working inside the community centre when she heard a loud crash and realized that one of the windows had been broken. She recalled seeing shattered glass scattered across the floor and noticed that several children who had been inside at the time were frightened by the noise. Because of the damage, staff had to end programs early, and parents were contacted to pick up their children. Ms. White emphasized that the broken window created a lot of disruption and inconvenience for the community, as the centre could not operate as usual until repairs were made.
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Tyler explained that he had been outside with Jayden when the group of friends began throwing rocks to see who could throw the farthest. He witnessed Jayden’s throw and saw the rock strike the window, causing it to break. Tyler recalled that Jayden looked shocked and upset right away and said it was clear Jayden had not expected the rock to hit the building. According to Tyler, Jayden was just playing like everyone else and never intended to cause damage. He believes it was an accident and not something Jayden did on purpose.
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Mr. Lee shared that he has worked with Jayden during many youth programs at the community centre. In his experience, Jayden is usually respectful, cooperative, and enjoys participating in sports and other outdoor activities. He said Jayden does not have a history of causing trouble and is generally a positive influence on his peers. Mr. Lee believes the incident with the rock was out of character and that Jayden has learned a serious lesson from what happened. In his view, Jayden would not intentionally damage property or cause harm.
