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The Leeds' footballers' trial

Updated 14 December 2001, 14.37

A Leeds nightclub The Leeds nightclub near where the crime happened

Citizenship 11-14/KS3/Levels E&F
Crime and justice

Overview
Two role-model footballers have been tried for violent crimes.

This activity looks at the process of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) from arrest to sentencing.

Learning aims

Learn about what happens when someone is tried for a crime
Learn the name 'Criminal Justice System'
Develop their discussion skills

Icebreaker
Read the story Leeds footballer guilty of fighting in public.

Present the guide to the Criminal Justice System to the class as useful background information.

The trial took place at Hull Crown Court so the focus should be on this kind of court.

select this link for our guide to the Criminal Justice System.

Main activity
The class discuss the following questions:

Do celebrities have a responsibility to act as role-models?
Will juries be kinder towards celebrity defendants?
Should celebrities be allowed to pay for more expensive lawyers to fight their case?
Do celebrity convicted criminals get lighter sentences than ordinary people?

Extension activity
The trial could be used as the stimulus for a written activity where students describe the trial from one of the people involved's point of view.

They could choose from:

One of the defendants
The judge
A member of the jury
The victim
An eyewitness
The prosecuting or defending lawyer

Plenary
Recap on the five stages of the CJS and students can present their written accounts of the viewpoints.

Teachers' Background

The police make two million arrests every year.
The youth court deals only with defendants aged 17 and under. It is usually based in or near the Magistrates' Court.
Different rules apply to defendants who are under the age of 18.
Few cases are automatically sent to a Crown Court, even if the case very serious.
Sentences for youths are more varied than those for adults, and their parents can also be made to prevent their children from breaking the law again.

Turn this into an assembly

Students could represent each of the parties present in a Crown Court trial and each student gives a brief presentation about their role.
A group of volunteers could present the ideas from discussion questions above.

For all links and resources click at top right.

More Info

Sport Leeds footballer guilty of fighting in public

Pictures Images of crime

Find Out Guide to the Criminal Justice System

Web Links

(External) Criminal Justice System online

Note: You will leave CBBC. We are not responsible for other websites.

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