Page 33 - Natures Witness Entomology
P. 33
Mock
Trial
USING THIS KIT IN THE MOCK TRIAL that the car crash is related to a quick get-a-way
Nature’s Witness contains information to that went wrong during the rainy night.
determine the time of death of the two victims
discovered in the cabin. The evidence collected If Nature’s Witness is the only kit done in the
in this lab cannot prove that a specific person Mystery of Lyle and Louise, a mock trial is unlikely
murdered the two victims, however it can establish to be useful, as there is little evidence to introduce.
a time line for the events surrounding their death. If Instead, leave the results as an exercise in forensic
everything in the lab was performed correctly you entomology. If other exercises were performed,
should have obtained the following information: a mock trial can help students take all of the
evidence presented in the investigation and
available from other kits into account and provide a
The two victims at the cabin were more interesting and thorough trial. Information on
murdered during the evening nine days running a mock trial follows.
ago.
These victims were murdered before the
storm on the same night that the Mondelo BEFORE THE TRIAL
family car crashed. The timing from the If a more thorough social studies activity is desired,
data suggests the murder occurred when students may be instructed to read through the
the storm began, but it must have been procedures for trial of criminal cases and the
before the storm because flies are inactive simplified rules of evidence. Additionally, lessons
during rain storms. This places the cabin designed to familiarize students with the court
murder firmly before the car crash. system and judicial procedure may prove beneficial.
Because Lyle Mondelo and the Woman in the Cabin BRAINSTORMING
were dead before the car crash occurred, several Using the story and module evidence, list the facts
theories about the driver of the car can be made. of the case on the board.
The timing of the crimes also allows students to Determine, as a class, who should be charged for
connect the crimes to one another. It seems likely each crime.
THE MYSTERY OF LYLE AND LOUISE 33
