KMTA Opening Speech Script

This is a script of an opening speech that I gave in a mock trial competition named KMTA this August... Sadly our team didn't get any awards but I just attached this to give an example of a speech that I make.

Opening Speech: Defense

(Time Limit: 5 min.)

Attorney: Seung Min Kim

May it please the court.

Seeing what they want to see, hearing what they want to hear. This, is exactly what the prosecution side is doing.

Your honor, the prosecution side today holds an extremely heavy burden. They must prove that Ms. Robin Caldwell, had the spatial-temporal opportunity to murder Ms. Congdon. They must prove that the defendant had the means to take away the last breath of the wealthy philanthropist on the night of June 26^th. They must prove that Ms. Caldwell had the motivation to take such felony into action.

And throughout the trial procedure today, we the defense side will show to you that these three aspects of criminal cases, opportunity, mean, and motive, were simply unable to be proven BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT from the very beginning. That the prosecution side today is simply seeing what they want to see, and hearing what they want to hear. We will do just that.

To show this, we have three truthful witnesses with us.

First, Ms. Robin Caldwell, the defendant here in this court, will explain that she is standing in this court for no reason. She will tell you that she was not in Duluth at the moment of Congdon estate’s burglary and murder, and she had no idea about the colossal wealth of Ms. Congdon. In short, there was no motivation or opportunity to kill Ms. Congdon whatsoever.

The next witness, Ms. Casey Jackson, as a local vacuum salesperson who was passing by the Congdon estate in the night of June 26^th, will show to you that the person who has a high possibility of being the convict didn’t look anything like Ms. Caldwell.

The last witness you’ll hear from, Ms. Bobbie Baxter, is an extremely talented and responsible. As a person who has an experience of working in crime fields for a long time, she will show you that the police investigation in this case was extremely biased and clumsy, thus leaving us with no choice but to cast reasonable doubts.

Seeing what you want to see, hearing what you want to hear, and finally concluding what you want to conclude always seems to be a tempting decision. However, regardless of how easy the offer might seem, the heavy burden that every prosecution side holds in a criminal case, “BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT” remains unchanged. And at the end of today’s court, evidences will show, your honor, that the prosecution has been extremely negligent and selective in accusing Ms. Caldwell as the defendant.

Quiz custodies pesos custodes? Who will watch the watchers? In every democratic society, a watcher for the administrative branch exists, called the judge. And today, I see another honorable watchmen sitting in front of me.

And I ask you today, Quiz Custodies Pesos Custodes? Who shall ever have the possibility of watching the watchers, if you, the watchmen, forget about the basic burden of proof that every prosecution side holds? Who could keep a single watch of watchers if you let the prosecution side, who is seeing what they only want to see and hearing what they only want to hear, win?

Will you let an indelible mark left in the history of Judicial Branch called a “precedent,” that you have voted for a prosecution that is so biased and clumsy? You decide.

Let justice be ruled in this court. Thank you.