HHS Mock Trial Team Advances to County Elite Eight
A close victory over talented Harborfields in the Sweet 16 round has propelled the Huntington High School mock trial team into the Suffolk Elite Eight round where it will face Half Hollow Hills East on Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. in District Court in Central Islip.
Huntington’s trial team members turned in another gritty performance against Harborfields, toppling the Tornadoes, 44-38 before Acting County Court Judge James P. Flanagan. The two teams were especially combative, objecting numerous times during the legal battle.
“Judge Flanagan significantly limited the scope of the hearing testimony to the primary issue of the suppression hearing whereby our squad displayed its adaptability be revising its overall presentation while in progress,” explained John LoTurco, a district resident who has volunteered hundreds of hours over the past two years along with fellow attorney Xavier Palacios. The pair serves as the Huntington trial team’s legal advisors. Teacher Suzie Biagi is the team’s faculty advisor.
Harborfields proved to be a more than worthy opponent for Huntington, which improved its record to a sterling 5-0 this year. “This competition established that our team can succeed in tough courtroom battles as well as during more polished presentations,” Mr. LoTurco said.
Huntington’s road to victory against Harborfields began with Ekaterina Koulakova’s poised and thorough pre-trial application, which was granted by the court. Sabrina Palacios followed with an exemplary four minute opening statement, which set the tone for the team and signaled its readiness for an intense playoff battle.
“Sabrina’s remarkable and passionate opening statement was delivered without the benefit of any notes,” Mr. LoTurco said. “In short, it was the most outstanding opening statements that I have personally seen in the two years of our participation in the mock trial competitions.”
Dylan Aloe was once again outstanding as the lead detective. Judge Flanagan remarked that Mr. Aloe reminded him of Sgt. Joe Friday of Dragnet fame for his poise during an intense cross examination.
Mr. Aloe provided some degree of comic relief when asked on cross examination whether he would have been equally frightened as the defendant Kelly Roberts was when she chose to run away due to her belief that unknown assailants were chasing her when in fact it was undercover police officers. The Huntington senior said simply, “I would not have been afraid as I was carrying a gun.”
Cole Blackburn and Yardalie Daniel both took the stand and testified with their usual professionalism and conviction, impressing the courtroom and the judge.
Ms. Koulakova demonstrated her mettle when Judge Flanagan emphatically attempted to limit her aggressive cross examination of the defendant’s lead character and eyewitness. She was dauntless by countering the adversary’s numerous objections by asserting her contention and convinced the judge of the merits of her position through the art of forceful oratory persuasion.
The highly contested competition was seemingly going to come down to the scores on the closing arguments and Lena Scarpulla’s compelling eight minute statement secured the victory.
“Lena successfully crafted her closing argument by demonstrating that the lead detective was lawfully justified in searching the defendant’s apartment and backyard based upon the exigent circumstances, which included that the defendant was a dangerous drug dealer who may have had a hostage inside her apartment and was also attempting to destroy or hide the evidence,” Mr. LoTurco said. “As a result, Judge Flanagan denied the defense application to suppress the evidence and provided our team with the victory.”
Julio Colon-Barbosa contributed to Huntington’s overall performance by successfully correcting the judge and pointing out that the opposing team neglected to mark an exhibit despite the judge’s claim to the contrary.
The Huntington team’s founder and Class of 2015 member Justin LoTurco was at the match against Harborfields along with former teammate and fellow alum Elizabeth Corrao. They are both Duke University freshmen and were home on spring on break.
Huntington faces Hills East on Wednesday (March 23) at 2:45 p.m. at Suffolk County District Court in Central Islip. The trial will be presided over by Acting Supreme Court Justice Caren Loguercio.