Mock Trial Team Heads to Playoffs

ST. JOSEPH MOCK TRIAL MAKES PLAYOFFS BACK-TO-BACK YEARS!

St. Joseph High School’s Mock Trial Team is headed to the State Playoff Tournament again. The Team was refounded as a first year program in 2024–2025. Since then, the Team has made the playoffs both years.

The Case tried was State v. Vansteenburg, a criminal trial alleging that the Defendant, a wealthy accountant, is responsible for manslaughter in the second degree because the Defendant’s oxycodone pills caused the death of the Victim, Huda Mistiffa. Much of the context and facts are hotly contested by the attorneys. 

The Prosecution’s Trial Recap

The Prosecution Team was presented by Senior Captain Rhys Ingram (attorney), Senior Captain Jason Wu (attorney), Sophomore Aria Chiaramonte, Junior Olivia Wells (witness), Sophomore Meredith Malloy (witness) and Sophomore Cora Nevard (witness).

Mr. Wu used his opening statement to immediately alert the jury to the Defendant’s criminal intent and previewed all the evidence expected to be put in front of the jury during trial. 

The Prosecution’s case-in-chief was led by their witnesses: Ms. Nevard, Ms. Malloy, and Ms. Wells. They convincingly testified about the Defendant’s prescribed oxycodone caused Huda’s death, while also showing the Defendant’s reckless actions preceding the consumption of such. 

Next, the Defense’s case-in-chief. Mr. Ingram impeached his witness by omission for creating new facts on the stand for the first time. Mr Ingram also made that witness qualify her prior statements made on direct examination.

Ms. Chiaramonte led the second cross examination pointing to the witness’s bias and lack of information.

Mr. Wu was the final cross examination. His cross was filled with substantive evidentiary arguments requiring judge intervention via many rulings. Luckily, Mr. Wu’s knowledge of evidence allowed him to present all the salient points to the jury.

Finally, Mr. Ingram finished the last leg of the trial by making the Closing Argument & Rebuttal. He used the exhibits and testimony throughout the day to remind the jury of the Prosecution’s theme from the opening statement.

The Prosecution tied Weston’s Red Team. Weston’s Red Team’s reputation proceeds itself in the mock trial community, as they were notably ranked #33 in the United States based on the National High School Mock Trial Championship in May 2025.

 

The Defense’s Trial Recap

The Defense Team was presented by Senior Captain Catherine Conlon (attorney), Senior Abigail Angier (attorney), Senior Katherine Fernschild (attorney), Senior Leah Ali (witness); Senior Reese Vartelas (witness); and Freshman Elise Angier (witness). 

Ms. Abigail Angier demanded the Court’s attention  with her opening statement explaining disputed pieces of evidence and that, given the context, the jury would see that reasonable doubt existed.

Ms. Abigail Angier then conducted the first cross-examination in which she casted doubt on the witnesses’s reliability and won all objections posed by the Prosecution.

Ms. Fernschild cross examined the Prosecution’s next witness and got the witness to admit under oath such witness’s own critical failures relating to this case.

Finally, Ms. Conlon completed the last cross examination for the Defense Team and was able to discredit the witness by displaying the witness’s bias against the Defendant for the jury while also sustaining objections during the witness’s direct examination and excluding crucial prosecution evidence.

Next, the Defense Team presented their own case and called three witnesses played by Ms. Leah Ali, Ms. Reese Vartelas, and Ms. Elise Angier. All three presented likeable, sympathetic, and believable witnesses and kept their credibility intact.

Ms. Fernschild finished off the trial with her closing argument asking questions of the Prosecution never answered for the jury. Accordingly, she submitted that the jury must acquit because reasonable doubt existed.

The Defense Team beat Wilton’s White Team who proved themselves to be a very well coached team with poised advocates. Notably, Wilton is the school who knocked St. Joseph out of the playoffs last year.  

 

Additional Thanks
 

Our Competition could not have happened without the efforts of our valuable behind the scenes members, including Freshman Leila Trefz (timekeeper), and Senior Katelyn Zeni (Bailiff). 

Additionally, Martin Dempsey, Joseph Dzurenda, and Maria Martinez ensured the logistics were complete and the team was set up for success.

 

The Coaches
 

The team is coached by Attorney Kyle D. Souza (SJ ‘15) and his wife, Attorney Nicolle M. Lipkin. The two met at Quinnipiac University School of Law. Coach Souza and Lipkin restarted this team in 2024-2025 to give back to the St. Joseph High School community, especially because it was this team that showed Coach Souza he ultimately wanted to go to law school and become an attorney when he led his SJ Mock Trial Team to playoffs in 2014-2015 under then-Coach Nancy Lessard. 

While Coach Souza was skeptical in even joining the Mock Trial Teaml while at SJ, the Coach convinced him she’d make it work with his athletic and extracurricular schedule. Coach Souza now employs the same philosophy for current team members involved in sports and other extracurricular activities.

During practices, Coaches Souza and Lipkin emphasize the Federal Rules of Evidence, Credibility, Substantive Law, and having fun with serious topics. Above all, they emphasize hard work and accountability.