Sammy Jo Roenick was found brutally beaten and strangled beyond recognition in her home on the evening of March 18.
Earlier that day, her ex-husband, Peyton Roenick, was given a restraining order. He is now charged with her murder.
Should he be convicted?
Law students from 14 schools nationwide will have to convince a jury of the defendant’s guilt or innocence, as they act as defense and prosecution in the mock case.
The case will be tried several times this weekend at the MSU-Detroit College of Law Building.
But the verdict won’t grant the man freedom, or send him to the big house.
Instead, the student group that best argues the made-up case, People v. Peyton Roenick, will win the Third Annual National Trial Advocacy Competition, hosted by DCL’s Moot Court and Advocacy Board.
“I’m fired up,” said third year law student Elizabeth Poremba, before presenting the prosecutor’s argument Thursday night. It was the first time she and her North Carolina team has participated in a mock court competition.
Poremba said gaining experience was the best part of the night. She added jokingly that her team wasn’t going to lose.
“The goal really isn’t winning,” said Assistant Professor at Wayne State University School of Law David Moss.
“The goal is developing lawyering skills.” Moss coaches a team of law students at Wayne State.
Teams are made up of four law students who are evaluated by federal district court judges and criminal trial attorneys.
All teams have trial packages containing the fabricated details. The trial packages also included case details, police reports, news articles and an autopsy report.
While DCL students aren’t competing this year, students from as far as the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in California and as close to home as Cooley Law School in Lansing, will join the battle of lawyers-to-be.
Last year, Georgia State University School of Law’s team successfully defended the character of Shaun Holmes.
The character was loosely based on the legally troubled Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, after a nightclub shooting in New York.
“(The competition) puts DCL out there on a national level,” Director of Competitions and third-year law student Eric Ensminger said.
“It’s great exposure for the school.”
The first round of trials began Thursday night and will continue tonight at 6 p.m. in the Clif and Carolyn Haley Moot Court Room of the DCL Building,
In addition, the DCL building is also a place where real federal cases are sometimes argued.
Four teams will continue in a semi-final round at 9 a.m Saturday, and the championship round will be argued at 2 p.m. that day.
