Elementary school students learn courtroom procedures when Gold E. Locks is tried for burglary

By David Volz
Special Correspondent

December 4, 2005

Was Gold E. Locks a burglar? Did she willfully break into the Three Bears' house and steal their porridge?

These were the questions put to a jury of Griffin Elementary School students during a mock trial held at Broward County's West Regional Courthouse in Plantation. Almost 30 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from the school's gifted program took a field trip to the courthouse to see how a real court proceeding works.

The children had studied court procedure before the excursion and been given a lecture from an assistant state attorney.

"This was a good experience for the students because it gave them real-world experience," said Jerome Davis, who teaches the gifted fourth and fifth grades. "A lot of them know about the sensational trials, like the woman who sued Wendy's over a finger in her chili, but they don't know as much about what really happens in a regular courtroom."

Initially, the jury was evenly divided on the guilt or innocence of Gold E. Locks, but eventually decided to acquit her.

According to the script written by Special Magistrate Brenda DiIoia, the mother of student Logan Prager, Gold E. Locks was charged with burglary after being found sleeping in the bed of Baby Bear, a classmate. Gold E. Locks maintained she entered the home because she believed Baby Bear might be hurt or that a burglar had perhaps robbed the home. Gold E. Locks' mother testified she was home during the time of the burglary.

But there was DNA evidence on the porridge spoons. There was also a broken chair.

Scott Melett of DNA Labs International in Deerfield Beach gave the students a brief presentation on how DNA testing is done and how DNA can be used in courtrooms. Plantation Police Officer Tom Diemer as "Officer Rookie" testified about fingerprint evidence lifted from the Bear home.

"It did not feel good to be on trial and I was not really sure who was for me or who was against me," said Allison Barnard, 9, who played Gold E. Locks.

After all the evidence for and against Gold E. Locks had been presented, the jury was hung. But after further deliberations, the students decided that while she had been in the Three Bears' home, there was no premeditated act of wrongdoing. Also, no witnesses had seen her eat the bears' porridge or break a chair.

DiIoia, who had invited the class to the courtroom and presided over the trial, was impressed with the outcome.

"The kids did awesome and performed better than I anticipated," she said. "I think it is good for kids to see there are ways to resolve things without blowing people up like they see with video games."

The students took their roles seriously. Samantha Puglisi, 10, acted as prosecutor. "I was kind of nervous but at the end I liked it," she said. "I had never been in a courthouse before. Law could be a good career. I would like to be a judge."

DiIoia's son, Logan Prager, 9, was a defense attorney. "I think it would be scary to be a lawyer representing people in court," he said, adding, "I did believe Gold E. Locks was innocent."