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The trial of former detective Mills
“If you murder a suspect David... You throw it all away and he knows it.” - Detective William Somerset
On the basis of the events in David Fincher's Se7en this class activity is to perform a subsequent court case of Brad Pitt's character, David Mills. David Mills is tried for the murder of the antagonist, John Doe. You are each to participate in the trial as either the judge, prosecution, defense, defendant, witnesses, medical examiners or members of the jury. Click below to find out what is to be expected from your character.
Characters
Objectives of The Judge
As the Judge, your main objective is to maintain law and order, ensure that justice is served, and remember that you must remain impartial.
You are in charge of keeping the schedule of the court:
1) Welcoming the people to the court and introducing those present
2) Opening statement from the prosecution
3) Opening statement from the defense
4) Public medical examination of David Mills
5) Witnesses testify and answer questions from the prosecution and the defense
6) Public deliberation of the jury and recommended sentencing
7) The judge carries out the sentencing
You may want to prepare your opening speech and research similar cases, as well as the laws of the State of New York.
You must also inform the prosecution and the defense that they have the possibility to object to each other’s arguments and/or questions to the witnesses on the basis of three grounds: irrelevant, speculation, or hearsay. You have the authority to either overrule (dismiss) or sustain (accept) the objection.
Good luck.
Objectives of The Defense
As the defense in the trial, your main objective is to have your client, former detective, David Mills acquitted of all charges. You must prepare a brief opening statement where you pronounce your stance on the charges and prepare questions for the four witnesses, former detective William Somerset, the helicopter pilot Thomas O'Brien, the Police Chief and the delivery guy Ricky Arquette as well as potentially your own client David Mills if you choose to call him unto the witness stand. Remember that you are also allowed to object to any questions or statements by the prosecution, on the basis of irrelevancy, speculation or hearsay, that you wish the judge to disallow.
Good luck.
Objectives of The Prosecution
As the prosecution of the trial, your main objective is to have the defendant, former detective, David Mills convicted of all charges. You must prepare a brief opening statement where you pronounce your stance on the charges and prepare questions for the witnesses, former detective William Somerset, the helicopter pilot Thomas O'Brien, the Police chief and the delivery guy Ricky Arquette as well as potentially former detective David Mills if you choose to call him unto the witness stand. Remember that you are also allowed to object to any questions or statements by the defendants on the basis of irrelevancy, speculation or hearsay and it will be up to the judge to either sustain or overrule the objection.
Good luck.
Objectives of David Mills
As the defendant of the trial your main objective is
to be acquitted of all charges. You are unlikely to deny having commited the murder, as several people including your former partner William Somerset and other witnesses in the trial, witnessed your actions. Therefore, you are likely
to share stories about your wife, your unborn child, the horrors of John Doe's crimes and especially the box, in order to evoke the sympathy of the jury. It is recommended that you conduct a brief characterisation of David Mills in order
to portray him in the best possible and most accurate manner.
Good luck.
Objectives of The Medical Examiners
As the medical examiners you must conduct a public, medical examination of the defendant former detective David Mills
to determine whether he is if t for punishment or not.
You must, therefore, prepare a list of questions, images etc. that you wish to ask or show the defendant and your main objective is thus, to determine the mental state of the defendant and clarifying whether the defendant is fit for punishment or not. The final decision will, however, be the judge's.
Good luck.
Objectives of The Jury
As members of the jury your main objective is to secure that the defendant is acquitted or convicted based on the facts of the case. You, therefore, have to write notes throughout the trial that you can include in your final public discussion. After your public discussion you will suggest a suitable punishment for the defendant based on the laws of the state of New York.
Good luck.
Objectives of William Somerset
As a witness in the trial you are obligated to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth - but what is the truth?
You witnessed first-hand, how your partner, former detective David Mills murdered the suspect John Doe, but what questions you choose to answer and how you choose to answer them is entirely up to you. You are, however, of the conviction that it would be best for David Mills to receive treatment in a mental hospital rather than serve time in prison.It might be a good idea, though, to conduct a brief characterisation of William Somerset in order to portray him in
the most accurate manner.
Good luck.
Objectives of the Police captain
As the, unfortunately unnamed, Police Captain, you are an important source of information in this case. You were the boss of former detectives David Mills and William Somerset, at the time of the events, and you may be able to share important information on the objectives of the mission, the working relationship as well as provide information on David Mills as a person. How you decide to answer the questions you are presented with is entirely up to you.
Good luck.
Objectives of helicopter pilot, Thomas O'Brien
As the helicopter pilot Thomas O'Brien you are a key witness in the case, and as a key-witness your objective is to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth - but what is the truth? You witnessed, however from a distance, the defendant former detective David Mills execute the suspect John Doe from your helicopter, but what questions you choose to answer and how is entirely up to you. It may be interesting if you came up with a backstory for your character as well as determine the relationship between you and other important figures such as David Mills, William Somerset, the Police chief and John Doe.
Good luck.
Objectives of the delivery guy, Ricky Arquette
As the delivery guy Ricky Arquette you are a key witness in the case, and as a key-witness your objective is to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth - but what is the truth? You did not directly witness the murder of John Doe as you were instructed by William Somerset to run off, but you heard the shot, and you had a very interesting encounter with John Doe prior to the murder. It may be a good idea to come up with a backstory for your character as well as determine what exactly happened when you met John Doe. What questions you decide to answer and how is entirely up to you.
Good luck.
