Harry Potter not guilty of murder
In acquitting the wizard, student jury decides death of Professor Quirrell at Potter's hands was a case of self-defence
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Fans of Harry Potter can relax. The wizard will not be going to jail after he was found not guilty of second degree murder by a jury in territorial court in Yellowknife last Thursday.
Harry Potter is all smiles just before going on trial for murder. The wizard was played by local defence lawyer Tu Pham in a mock trial held last week. It was done for students as part of Law Week activities. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
Potter had been charged with killing Professor Quirrell when Potter attempted to get the sorcerer's stone at the Hogwarts School on Nov. 3 of last year.
Potter was represented by local lawyer Gary Wool who argued in court that Potter had indeed killed Quirrell but that the deed was done in self-defence. Wool also expressed some concerns of what was supposed to be a jury of Potter's peers because he said it was made up of mere Muggles (someone who lacks any magical ability and was not born into the magical world).
Crown prosecutor Jeannie Scott told the court that Potter was guilty of murder because he wanted the sorcerer's stone for himself and had killed the professor because he had tried to take the stone from Potter. She argued that Potter had intentionally held on to Quirrell's arm for too long, killing him by turning his body into ashes.
One of the more compelling and animated witnesses in the trial was Lord Voldemort's spirit who was a witness to the professor's death. The frightening-looking spirit actually testified in French and it was translated for the jury and the rest of the court.
The jury of Muggles was made up of 10 boys and two girls. Pyper Ann Legge was the jury foreman. Yellowknifer asked her why the jury found Potter not guilty.
"All the witnesses for the prosecution kept on changing their stories, and making mistakes in their stories," she said.
Two of the jurors had initially thought Potter was guilty, Legge said.
"I just told them that I was very sure he was not guilty and pointed out they (the prosecution witnesses) were changing their stories and eventually they agreed."
Legge is actually a 15-year-old student at Sir John Franklin School and the court proceedings were part of a mock trial held in conjunction with Canadian Law Week and Canadian Law Day, aided by the NWT branch of the Canadian Bar Association, the NWT courts, the Department of Justice and the NWT Law Society.
The jury was made up of Grade 9 students from Sir John Franklin School. Their classmates were the spectators in the public gallery.
It was staged in an effort to show the students what really goes on in a trial and how the justice system works.
Chief Judge Robert Gorin presided over the proceedings.
Local lawyer Tu Pham played the role of Harry Potter. The other main player, Lord Voldemort's Spirit was played by Yellowknife legal aid family lawyer Mark Ishack. The rest of the witnesses were also local lawyers.
Prior to the mock trial getting underway, several court workers including the clerk, court reporter and sheriff gave speeches on what their jobs consist of.
Taylor Lake, one of the students taking in the mock trial, said that she had never been at an actual trial before and found it very worthwhile and interesting.
"I've learned that it's very important that the people who work in the court are very impartial towards the accused and the witnesses." she said.
Student Sean Irwin felt that they might have been able to learn more by going to a real trial.
"There are real consequences in a real trial but because this is staged, you don't feel the drama that you would with a real trial."
