Colyton Grammar is through to the national final of the mock trial competition

Students from Colyton Grammar School got the right verdict when they appeared before Southampton Crown Court.

The team of budding legal eagles was judged winners of the regional final of the mock trial competition.

The year nine students successfully battled against schools from as far afield as Cornwall and West Sussex, to win a place in this year’s national final, which takes place in Nottingham, next month

The cases studied this year included one of handling stolen goods and a very topical one involving the fraudulent sale of Olympic Games tickets.

Judges singled out Theo Brown and Luca Lavric as particularly formidable lawyers, but ultimately it was the wider team performance that secured victory on the day.

Team co-ordinator Andrew Gregson said: “It is a great competition for building student self-confidence, critical thinking skills and team work. For some it also inspires an interest in the legal system which later shapes degree choices. Fingers crossed for the national final.”