2006 Mock Trial Competition
On Friday, March 17, 2006, Federal District Court Judge Malcolm Muir presided at the championship round of the North Central Region, Pennsylvania Mock Trial competition. Teams advanced by Bellefonte High School, Centre County and Selinsgrove High School, Snyder County, competed for local honors, and for the opportunity of competing in the state finals in Harrisburg, and national finals in Oklahoma City, OK.
The body of a homeless woman, Terese Jameson, was discovered by Officer D.J. Moats in a trash dumpster in an alley behind the Terrible Towel Café in downtown Barrister, Pennsylvania. The victim had formerly been employed at the café, a downtown landmark renowned for its half-pound, all-beef burgers. The victim had visited the café on the morning of November 20 with her child, 14-year-old Dani Jameson, to try to persuade the owner, defendant Teaberry (a/k/a Tee) Olson, to rehire her. Upon their arrival, Ms. Jameson went into the café while Dani Jameson waited outside. A short time after meeting with Tee Olson, Ms. Jameson was discovered dead in the dumpster.
Who was the murderer? Was it Teaberry Olson? Was it a local gang known for violence against homeless people? The Bellefonte team prosecuted Teaberry, while she was represented by the Selinsgrove team in this mock trial conducted by Judge Muir in the federal courthouse in Williamsport, Pa.
Ten local attorneys served as jurors. On the merits of the case, the jury rendered a unanimous verdict of "Not Guilty." The decision on the competition was much closer. As a result of the high quality of the performances and the closely matched teams, Bellefonte was selected to advance by a 6 to 4 vote.
