The year 11 students from the St Mary’s Campus at Maitland were up against Hunter Valley Grammar School for the first round of the inter-schools competition.

The setting was a murder trial and the St Mary’s students were on the side of the defendant.

Mock trial co-ordinator Sheridan Pruteanu said the team had two weeks to prepare.

“They have to assume the roles of every part of a trial: the ­witnesses, solicitor, barrister,” she said. “There is a magistrate, a practicing barrister, and it is a points-based system to win.”

The teams are marked on a number of elements, including argument structure, professionalism and closing arguments.

The winning team will now  compete at the regional mock ­trials.

St Mary’s student Samara Peterson, 16, said the opening address was a challenge because it was one of the longest pieces of dialogue in the trial.

All of the team members agreed the competition had inspired them to pursue future legal aspirations and gave them a better understanding of the judicial system.