River’s Story:
A Theft Scenario
Scenario
River is a 15-year-old Indigenous youth who has a strong interest in art. They often sketch during breaks at school and dream of becoming an illustrator, but they don’t have many supplies at home.
One afternoon after class, River noticed a brand-new, professional-quality set of colourful markers left on top of the art room desk. The markers had been given to Harper, a classmate, as a special birthday gift. When no one was looking, River slipped the markers into their backpack and took them home.
The following day, Harper discovered the markers were missing. They were upset, since the marker set was expensive ($450.00) and had been a meaningful gift. Harper told the teacher, who later checked River’s bag and found the markers inside.
When questioned, River admitted to taking the markers. River explained that they thought the markers were beautiful, wanted to try them, and planned to return them after using them.
River has now been charged with theft under $5,000, and the case is being brought before the court.
The Crown will argue that River knowingly took property that wasn’t theirs, while the Defence will argue that River had no intention to permanently keep the markers and lacked criminal intent.
Roles in the Courtroom
River – The student accused of stealing the markers.
River’s Defence Lawyer(s) – The defence lawyer’s job is to tell River’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.
Amira Harper’s Friend (Crown Witness) – Who knows how special Harper’s markers were to them.
Mack River’s Cousin (Defence Witness) – Who knows River and cares about them.
M. Daniels River’s Teacher (Defence Witness) – Who knows, River loves to draw, and they wouldn’t intend to hurt anyone.
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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River explained that they noticed the large pack of colourful markers sitting on the art desk after class. The markers immediately caught their attention because of their bright colours and professional quality. River admitted that they don’t have many art supplies at home and thought it wouldn’t matter if they borrowed the markers for a while. They said they never intended to keep them permanently and planned to return them once they were finished using them. River added that they did not realize the markers belonged to Harper as a special birthday gift and assumed they were classroom supplies available to everyone.
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Officer Sam reported being called to the school after a teacher discovered the missing markers inside River’s backpack. The officer confirmed that Harper had identified the markers as their own and that they were a recent birthday present. After speaking with both Harper and River, the officer noted that River admitted to taking the markers but insisted they had planned to return them. Officer Sam collected the markers and documented the incident as a case of theft under $5,000.
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Amira recalled seeing Harper bring the new markers to school and remembered how excited Harper was because they had been given as a birthday gift. She explained that the following day, Harper was visibly upset and cried when the markers were discovered missing. Amira stated that she believed River was the one who took them, since they were later found in River’s bag. She added her own personal feelings, admitting she does not particularly like River, but insisted that Harper was genuinely hurt because these were not ordinary classroom supplies; they were meaningful and special to her.
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Mack explained that they spend a lot of time with River outside of school and know how much River loves to draw. According to Mack, River is always sketching or doodling and often talks about wishing they had better art supplies at home. Mack said they do not believe River would intentionally steal from someone, especially a classmate. Instead, they think River simply wanted to borrow the markers for a short time because they were bright, colourful, and inspiring. Mack emphasized that River is a caring person who would not want to hurt Harper’s feelings.
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Ms. Daniels shared that she has taught River for two years and knows them as a kind and respectful student who has a passion for art. She said River often brings drawings to class and shares them proudly with others. Ms. Daniels added that she is aware River does not have many supplies of their own and believes this may have contributed to their decision to take the markers. In her view, River did not intend to cause harm or create trouble, but acted impulsively out of excitement. She emphasized that while the action was wrong, River’s behaviour was out of character and not consistent with how they usually treat others.
Photo Evidence
This marker set.
Drawing also found in
River’s Backpack.
