Case: The Trial of Romeo Montague

Prosecution: William Pham, Christine Vu, Sophia Barajas, Robert Maughan

Defense: Joy Chew, Airiana Alvarez, Matthew Nguyen, Jack Roepke
Opening Statement:
Romeo and Juliet had a romantic relationship during the time their families had
an ancient family feud. As they were trying desperately to keep their love hidden from
their own families, unexpected circumstances that prohibited them from being together
led them to taking their own lives. While Romeo may be the one who ended his life, and
consequently Juliets life, he isnt responsible for the circumstances that made him feel
like he needed to kill himself.
Witnesses:
Juliet--argue that Romeo was only acting out of love??
Nurse--evidence that she spoke well of Romeo
Friar Lawrence/Laurence, whatever tickles your fancy (Hallie and Jillian)
Lord Capulet (against Tybalt)--said he didnt want to do Romeo any harm
because he was a good kid
Benvolio--was the one who told Romeo to go to the party and get his mind
off of Rosaline in the first place (brandon Figuredo)
Mercutio--could be his fault, he picked the fight with Tybalt and got Romeo
exiled
Tybalt--talk about the whole fight with Mercutio and how it led to Romeo
avenging him (Kevin)
Experts:
Scientists to prove he was just acting out of love (Frozen rock trolls? We
can pull someone to act as a scientist)
Psychologist--was Romeo mentally stable when making his decision?
Janette?
Shakespeare!!Q!1--WELL HELLO HE WROTE THE DARN PLAYYYY SO
I THINK WE COULD CALL UP
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/balanced-life/2014/07/ever-wonder-whyadolescents-make-such-bad-decisions/
Questions to Ask the Witnesses:
1) How are you related to Romeo?
a) Friar Lawrence: I am the priest who married Romeo and
Juliet. I also a friend of Romeos
b) Tybalt: I dont know how to respond to that because I died
before knowing that he married Juliet. We were feuding, and I hated
Romeo, and he didnt necessarily like me either.

c) Benvolio: Were family.

d) Romeo: I am Romeo
2) How would you describe Romeos character/actions?
a) Tybalt: During the party he was acting suspicious. As a
person, hes someone whos not trustworthy because hes a Montague.
b) Benvolio: Romeos weak and whiny.
c)
3) Describe Romeo and Juliets relationship from your perspective.
a) Tybalt: They were sworn enemies because our families had
a feud. I had a justifiable reason to hate Romeo.
b) Friar Lawrence: Romeo and juliet were in love, but they
rushed their relationship
c) Benvolio: They didnt really have a relationship, I dont recall
ever seeing them together.
d) Romeo:
4) Did you ever see abnormal behavior prior to his death?
a) Tybalt: He met up with Juliet and neither of them tried to hurt
each other. I thought they were enemies.
5) What was your role in the story of Romeo and Juliet?
a) Tybalt: I was Juliets cousin and Romeos cousin in law.
Warrior of the house of the Capulets. Romeo crashed the Capulets party,
oh, hes so dumb. Hes a Montague, why would Montagues step onto
Capulet property? Hes going to face the consequences for his actions.
b) Friar Lawrence: I was the one who married Romeo and juliet
in hopes of ending the feud between the two families. I also devised a plan
which influenced juliet to take a potion that fakes death. I did it in order to
prevent juliet from committing suicide and to help her avoid her marriage
with Paris.
6) What do you know about Romeos death/the events leading up to his
decision to kill himself? I know that he did not receive the letter I sent to him, so
he didnt know about my plan I had with Juliet.
a) Tybalt: First of all, I died before he died, so I cant really say
anything.
7) Were you involved in/responsible for any of the circumstances that lead to
Romeo killing himself?
a) Tybalt: Yes. No, NO the answer is no!!! I killed Mercutio
which might have made him angry...Okay, I have to be biased during this
too!!
b) Friar Lawrence: I was involved in the plan to fake Juliets
death which resulted in Romeo and Juliets death because when I set
Friar John to send a message to Mantua for Romeo, Romeo didnt receive
the letter in time and instead rushed over to Verona to see Juliet and to kill
himself to be with her.

8) What parts might people have played that influenced Romeo?

a) Tybalt: For dying? The fact that he decided to kill me, could
have led to his wanting to die because he was exiled. But other than that,
no.
b) Lawrence: I think that when Balthazar told Romeo that Juliet
died influenced him.
9) Where were you the night that Romeo died, and did you know of his
intentions?
10)http://www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca/resources/fact_sheets/sampleQuestionsDir
ectWitnessesSC.php
11) http://www.insidejusticeuk.com/articles/proving-innocence/63
12) Did you have any involvement in his death?
a) Tybalt: Um, no. I blame Mercutio because he is the one who
provoked me first.
Evidence:
Specimen A: Prologue of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet.
PROLOGUE
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
(If we wanna be all fancy we can have someone burst into the classroom
with this paper in a ziploc bag, all cut up and aged, and we can have them
be all WAIT! There is evidence we have not seen yet!! and give us the
paper, or we can just present it all dramatically)
Specimen B: FRIAR LAWRENCES SECRET DEATH SERUM
We can have like a really cool little bottle or something I dunno like the
Allice in Wonderland drink me bottle. We could always go to like the 99 cent store and
get a tiny bottle and pour some liquid soap in it or something but IDK if it would really
make sense.

Do you support the idea that Lord Capulet was responsible for romeo and juliets death?
Yes, but his family so