This past Thursday, March 30, my fundamentals in biomedical sciences (I)) class was visited by Assistant District Attorney Louis Walker and Mr. Marcus Foxx of Foxx Law Firm as a continuation of forensic week activities! Previously this week we learned about the types of forensic evidence, the function it serves in court, and various ways of acquiring it. We also got to observe a mock scene and acquire evidence like actual investigators! Today, we were split into two groups–prosecution and defense–to help put together a case based on the evidence we acquired. The court case will follow the guilt of Mr. Nease in the death of his wife.
My group was assigned to the defense! This meant we were paired with Mr. Foxx. At first, I had many reservations about the defense because Mr. Nease is certainly a character. He didn’t want to answer questions, likely had an affair, and was known to argue with his wife. However, as I looked at the evidence I wasn’t so sure. Mrs. Nease had a past of mental health issues, and was even on medication for it. Mr. Nease left the scene because he wanted to get away from the sight of his dead wife. He might have had an affair, but he showed no means to want to harm his wife physically. The gun that fired the bullet that killed Mrs. Nease was registered to Mr Nease, but it had been purchased and registered a year earlier as a safety precaution for him and his wife. There is no solid evidence that links Mr. Nease to the crime. Mr Foxx made a good point to us. He said first impressions are almost never correct and that we must remember we are defending a file. This file had nothing pointing towards his guilt.
Our ideas for evidence will be given to a group of seniors to help aid their own case. There will be a full mock trial tomorrow during school. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it, but I believe the defense has a solid foundation to cast doubt upon Mr. Nease’s guilt. I am excited to hear how things go!
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