#northridgevent

In today’s lecture, Professor Griswold had passed out folders to each student and inside it contains a case summary, approved evidence that each side can use to show the judge, and a list of roles.

𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘:  Oxford real estate developer Philip Fontaine was found dead in his home in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 11, 2021.

Fontaine's young wife, Ashley, found his body in a dried up, pool of blood on the kitchen floor around 1:00 a.m. Both Mrs. Fontaine and her stepson Grant reportedly arrived home minutes before the 911 call was made.

Now, in September 2022, the case is about to come to trial, and the defense claims to have evidence exonerating the accused and implicating another suspect.

The night of the murder, Emergency Services received a 911 call reporting a man found dead on his kitchen floor. When sheriff's officers arrived at the location, they found a gruesome scene.

After examining the scene, Detective Armstrong talked to the victim's wife, Ashley Fontaine, who found the body and called 911.

Then the detective tried to get some sense out of the victim's son, Grant Fontaine, about what he'd been doing the night his father was killed.

After the sun came up, as a local news crew was reporting from the scene, Detective Armstrong got more information about the victim.

Later, while the detective reviewed a preliminary list of evidence collected at the scene, the Oxford Weekly Planet published their coverage of the murder.

That same morning, the Fontaines' housekeeper, Stacy McCracken, came in to meet with Detective Armstrong. This is where he learned that Philip had a girlfriend.

After lunch, the detective sat down with Mr. Fontaines' girlfriend, Raquel Santos, and revealed that Philip had been having arguments with his business partner, Josie Beecher.

𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄:

003419-01: One (1) .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol SN X-XXX-XXX

003419-02: One (1) expended cartridge (shell casing) .25 cal.

003419-03: One (1) apparently damaged bullet, .25 cal.

003419-04: One (1) set of kitchen knives and hardwood storage block

003419-05: One (1) set of keys, containing five keys

003419-06: One (1) checkbook containing checks from the BancorpSouth

003419-07: One (1) walking cane

003419-08: One (1) leather satchel-style briefcase

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒:

003419-08-01: One (1) date and address book, leather

003419-08-02: One (1) silver flask, empty

003419-08-03: Three (3) copies of housing development blueprints

003419-08-04: One (1) cellular telephone

003419-08-05: One (1) letter from Javier Montoya, attorney

003419-08-06: One (1) letter from Gerald Archer, vice president BancorpSouth

003419-08-07: One (1) partial copy of Visa credit card receipt, Ole Miss Motel, Oxford, MS.

003419-08-08: One (1) copy of Visa credit card receipt, Bennington Jewelers, Oxford, MS.

003419-09: One (1) folding knife, mother of pearl handle

003419-10: One (1) American Express bill

003419-11: One (1) chef's knife, wood handle with reddish stains on blade

𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓:

𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝟏 –––  𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒇:

Vera Myeong as The Prosecutor

Theodore DuPonts as Detective Armstrong

Isabel Astor as Stacy McCracken (the victim’s housekeeper)

Desirae Hart as Raquel Santos (the victim’s girlfriend)

𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝟐 –––  𝑫𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆:

Nicolás Bouiette as The Defense Attorney

Céline Bouiette as Ashley Fontaine (the victim’s wife and the defendant)

Ezra Fike as Grant Fontaine (the victim’s son)

Kamile Yener as Josie Beecher (the victim’s business partner)

Only the murderer knows the truth. On the day the event starts, we will be messaging each of you blurbs for your character and in character Griswold will be passing them out to the students in envelopes. It will give you a sense of how to go about the trial, but you may take it anywhere you would like. The crazier the better. At the end, we will be taking a vote to see which side was the most persuasive. In the classroom, Griswold, as the judge, will announce the winner and award them with extra points that goes towards the final competition.