FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS MAJORING IN LAW TOOK PART IN A MOCK TRIAL IN THE VARNA DISTRICT COURT
19 Април 2022
First-year lstudents at Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" majoring in Law passed a 10-year effective sentence in a mock criminal trial for intent of murder. The case was presented on the Open Day, organized by the District Court and the District Prosecutor's Office - Varna. The future lawyers took on the roles of a three-judge panel, a prosecutor, witnesses, experts and lawyers. They were welcomed by the heads of the District Court - Varna and the District Prosecutor's Office - Varna - Judge Marin Marinov and Prosecutor Radoslav Lazarov, according to the Press Service of the Supreme Administrative Court.
The mock trial was run under the direction of Judge Yana Paneva from the Criminal Department of the Court.
The student court listened to the parties in the case in order to have in mind all the circumstances in which the crime was committed; in a disco, a girl stabbed another one with a knife, after an argument over a boy. In the course of the court debate, the prosecutor suggested a sentence of less than the required minimum of 10 years, i.e. 7 year-sentence, due to the clean criminal record of the defendant and her young age. The defendant's lawyer expressed a different opinion, who requested an alternative charge, stating that the crime was committed in the heat of passion. Due to the many mitigating circumstances, he proposed a 10-month suspended prison sentence.
After the student court withdrew to a closed meeting, they announced their sentence of 10-year prison sentence under maximum security. The civil claim for non-material damage to the victim, inflicted as a result of the crime in the amount of BGN 30,000, was also pursued.
The participants in the mock trial were awarded diplomas and a copy of the Constitution.
Then the court administrators of the two host institutions introduced the students to the specifics of the specialized administration and introduced them to the various judicial services.
The Open Day at the District Court - Varna was under the motto "Judiciary up close" and was dedicated to the Day of the Bulgarian Constitution - April 16.
