Elementary school students put Big Bad Wolf on trial

Elementary school students eager to see justice served and determine fact from fiction in the case of a fairytale villain filled a courtroom Thursday in the Corpus Christi Federal Courthouse.

The verdict in the harrowing case turns everything the public might have heard about three little pigs and a big bad wolf on its head – the young jury found the Big Bad Wolf not guilty.

Students took on roles in the courtroom for a mock trial, sitting alongside real-life attorneys, courthouse workers and Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. Other students served as the jury, determining the outcome of the case. East Cliff Elementary School second grader Carrigan Zonkel and first grader Ava Seay shadowed the press during the event, including the Caller-Times.

Before attending the event, the young reporters knew a bit about the background of the case, having heard the classic tale of the three little pigs.

Referencing “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” by Jon Scieszka, which retells the story from the perspective of the wolf claiming his innocence, Ava said that there might be more to the story.

“The big bad wolf has to get a cup a sugar but the pigs won’t let him get anything,” Ava said. “He knows they have a big stack of sugar but they don’t want to give it to him because they think he’s going to eat them. But he’s not. All he wants is just a little cup of sugar for his dear old granny’s birthday cake.”

In this version of the story, which the mock trial script is based on, the wolf claims he accidentally blew down the house of two pigs with a sneeze because he had allergies.

“He actually blows the houses down and then he goes to jail,” Carrigan said.

Inside the trial of the Big Bad Wolf

In the case, Alexander T. Wolf, also known as “The Big Bad Wolf,” has been charged with trespassing, breaking and entering, damage of property and murder after allegedly destroying two pigs homes and eating them. The Third Little Pig, Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks served as witnesses. Each fairytale character was played by an actor from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

“The state has the burden of proving the Big Bad Wolf killed two pigs, and attempted to kill a third pig,” Incarnate Word Academy third grader and mock trial prosecutor Brady Benavides said.

Almost immediately as the trial kicked off, students learned what an objection was when the wolf’s defense attorneys objected to the prosecution referring to Wolf as the “Big Bad Wolf.”

Incarnate Word Academy third grader and judge Mary Klabonski sustained the objection.

The defense team claimed Wolf’s innocence.

“Under no circumstance would he ever consider harming them or their property – much less even think of eating them,” East Cliff Elementary School third grader and defense attorney Alex Chappell said. “We will also show that Mr. Wolf suffers from prejudice against wolves.”

Lawyers on both sides questioned witnesses, showing that witnesses Little Red Riding Hood and Third Little Pig can’t tell different wolves apart. Additionally, the defense learned that Pig enjoys eating wolf soup and planned to eat Wolf, while Wolf enjoys pork.

As attorneys crafted their closing arguments, young reporters Ava and Carrigan discussed the facts of the case.

“I kind of believe him, but kind of don’t,” Carrigan said of Wolf’s story.

When the case was put to the students in the jury, they decided to declare Wolf “not guilty,” finding reasonable doubt that Wolf intentionally attacked the pigs.

Ava and Carrigan cornered Wolf after the trial.

“How do you feel?” Ava asked.

“I feel very liberated,” Wolf, played by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi student Drake McElyea, said. “This is a great victory against animal stereotypes against wolves.”

Carrigan wanted to confirm a detail of the case – did Wolf actually eat two of the pigs?

“I didn’t have any intention of attacking them or eating them beforehand, but after fact... it’s a perfectly good pork chop,” he said.

After he gets home from the trial, he plans to enjoy a Baconator, he said, and maybe visit his friend Goldilocks who testified on his behalf.

After the trial had wrapped up, Flour Bluff Elementary School third grader and prosecutor Erfan Mazloum still thought Wolf should have been found guilty.

“I figured that Wolf is guilty!” Erfan said passionately. “I have many reasons for that, but the biggest reason is you can go to the store and buy sugar – problem solved.”

Teaching the judicial system with theatrics and fun

The mock trial was planned by Gowan Elizondo Law Firm based on an American Board of Trial Advocates activity aimed at teaching students about the judicial system and jury trials.

“Juries are the backbone of the judicial system – without it, it doesn’t work,” Greg Gowan told the students. “So, it’s very important what y’all are doing today, learning how our system works.”

Students came from Flour Bluff ISD's Flour Bluff Elementary School, Gregory-Portland ISD's East Cliff Elementary School and Incarnate Word Academy.

Greg Turman of Snapka Law Firm was one of the attorneys helping the students – though he went by “Gray Wolf” of “Dewey, Eatem and Howl Law Firm” during mock trial. The defense team was fully in character, sniffing like wolves at one point to discover that witness Pig had a can of Wolf Brand Chili.

“This was a wonderful experience, especially dealing with the children who seem a lot more grown up than their age,” Turman said. “They were wonderful to work with and they did a tremendous job.”

Gowan said that his firm has long wanted to hold a mock trial for students.

"When you have fun with the kids and they’re engaged, they learn a lot better than if you just tell them,” Gowan said. “If you go and give a speech about it then they might listen, they might not. They might not understand. But if you put it in action and make it fun, all of them will leave today understanding what they jury system is about.”

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Elementary school students find Big Bad Wolf "not guilty"