Mock Trial Team Advances to Top 10!

ST. JOSEPH MOCK TRIAL ADVANCES  TO THE TOP 10

St. Joseph High School’s Mock Trial Team advanced from the First Round of the State Playoff Tournament (top 22 of the original 63 teams) to the 2nd Round, consisting of the Top 10 teams remaining.

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. Wu had a contentious cross-examination of with the Defendant herself undermining her credibility and character based on her conduct.

Mr. Ingram cross-examined the Defense’s $20,000 expert witness, who was board-certified in Addiction Medicine, and got her to admit the Defendant’s conduct was illegal.

Finally, Ms. Chiaramonte led the last cross-examination, pointing to the witness’s bias, including that he dated the Victim until she cheated on him and that they had a business rivalry

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 and how the Defense’s theme was inconsistent with the evidence presented.

The Prosecution surpassed a talented Cheshire Team. Now, the Prosecution has a chance to rematch Weston in the Top 10, the team they tied in the preliminary round.

Additionally, Mr. Ingram won an award for Most Outstanding Advocate. There were Four Most Outstanding Advocate awards given out to the 12 teams that competed in the Bridgeport Playoff round.

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.

First, Ms. Fernschild cross-examined the detective who investigated the case and got her to admit under oath such witness’s own critical failures relating to this case.

Second, Ms. Abigail Angier then conducted the first cross-examination in which she cast doubt on an eyewitness’s reliability.

Finally, Ms. Conlon completed the cross-examination of the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy. Ms. Conlon highlighted for the jury the tests that were, and were not, performed.

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 faced Sheehan, the 2024-2025 Connecticut State Champions. Out of the two judges scoring the two teams, each listed a different winner. Sheehan is also advancing from the Top 22 to the Top 10.

Additional Thanks
 

Our Competition could not have happened without Freshman Leila Trefz (timekeeper & bailiff). 

The Coaches
 

The team is coached by Attorney Kyle D. Souza ‘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 Team 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.