Page 27 - Jagged Edge Glass Fragment
P. 27
Mock
Trial
USING THIS KIT IN THE MOCK TRIAL If Glass Identification is the only kit done in the
The Jagged Edge contains information that could Mystery of Lyle and Louise, a mock trial is unlikely
potentially link the abandoned truck in New Mexico to be useful, as prosecution has little evidence to try
to the vehicle crash crime scene along Backbone a suspect. Instead, leave the results as an exercise
Mountain. The evidence collected in this lab cannot in determination of the refractive index of glass. If
prove conclusively that any specific person was other exercises were performed, a mock trial can
present at the crime scene nor who was the driver help students take all of the evidence presented in
of the abandoned truck. In addition, the evidence the investigation and available from other kits into
presented cannot prove decisively that glass account and provide a more interesting and thorough
fragments obtained from the crime scene match trial. Information on running a mock trial follows.
the headlight lens of the abandoned truck, as the
glass from any vehicle with the same headlight as
the abandoned truck cannot be excluded as the BEFORE THE TRIAL
source of the glass found at the crime scene. If If a more thorough social studies activity is
everything in the lab was performed correctly you desired, students may be instructed to read
should have obtained the following information: through the procedures for trial of criminal cases
and the simplified rules of evidence. Additionally,
lessons designed to familiarize students with the
court system and judicial procedure may prove
Vehicle headlight glass is discernable from beneficial.
other types of glass by its refractive index,
which ranges from 1.47-1.49
BRAINSTORMING
While the evidence cannot prove who was
the driver of the abandoned truck and cannot Using the story and module evidence, list the facts
prove the truck was the source of the broken of the case on the board.
glass collected from the vehicle crash site,
the evidence does show the glass collected Determine, as a class, who should be charged for
from the crime scene to be vehicle headlight each crime.
glass and that the glass is consistent
with that of the broken headlight of the Put students into brainstorming groups. Give all
abandoned truck found in New Mexico. groups five to ten minutes to develop hypotheses
for each of the following:
THE MYSTERY OF LYLE AND LOUISE 27
