1. + Assignment 2 – Law in the News Inquiry How to research your article and relate information to each criteria. An example of how to go about it…

2. + Teens in court over Mt Lawley school fire KATE CAMPBELL, The West Australian August 31, 2012, 11:34 am Two teenage boys accused of starting a fire that gutted the historic Mt Lawley Primary School, causing about $9 million damage, made their first court appearance today. The 15 and 16-year-old boys, from Morley and Dianella and who cannot be identified for legal reasons, faced Perth Children's Court today well-dressed and with their parents by their side. The teenagers are charged with criminal damage by fire, with police alleging they were in the courtyard of the primary school on July 7 when they set fire to chairs under the verandah. The blaze quickly spread out of control. The boys were charged earlier this month. The court was today told a 16-year-old Mt Lawley girl, who is a girlfriend of one of the boys and who was initially charged with trespass as a co-accused, received a caution for that offence. The prosecutor told the court they could apply for the arson case to be sent to the Children's Court president to deal with. The boys had some of their bail conditions changed today, including the removal of a $20,000 surety. They are both on night-time curfews, but Magistrate Timothy Schwass today allowed them to leave their homes at night if they were accompanied by their fathers and older brothers, as well as their mothers. Mr Schwass also allowed the 16-year-old boy to again have contact with his girlfriend after confirming she is no longer a co-accused. However, the accused boys are still banned from having any contact with each other as part of their bail conditions. A lawyer for the 15-year-old told the court that although it was a serious offence, his client had no record and there did not appear to be any justification for such a high surety. The boys and their families did not comment outside court. Their case was adjourned to October 19. Mt Lawley Primary School students have been moved to the local high school while their own school is rebuilt, a process expected to take about 18 months. Their temporary classrooms were built on a soccer pitch at the high school in just 13 days during the school holidays. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/14720466/teens-in-court-over-mt-lawley-school-fire/

3. + Key information for your Inquiry Describe or summarise the key features of the article and identify the person(s) involved. Your summary should be a minimum of 6 to 8 lines in length. For example: Title of article “Teens in court over $9m Mt Lawley school fire” Who? Two 15 & 16 year old teenage boys, have been charged with…. What charge? Criminal damage by fire Which court? Children’s Court Other important info… They had a $20,000 surety bail condition removed and their night time curfew varied. What was the alleged offence? Police allege the boys set fire to some chairs in the school’s courtyard verandah on the 7 th July – the fire quickly spread out of control What happened? Most of the school buildings were destroyed Who else was involved? A 16 year old teenage girl – a girlfriend of one of the boys, originally charged with trespassing but formally has been cautioned. Other info?

4. + Define and explain each legal word, term or concept which appears in the article Legal term examples, define each of these: Court Appearance Charged Co-accused Criminal damage Children’s court Plead Bail conditions Night time curfews Allege Accused Trespassing Cautioned Reappear Key information for your Inquiry

5. + Identify the alleged offence or crime committed and the type of law broken (civil or criminal). Classify and explain the type of civil/criminal law of which the article is referring. Criminal offence - Criminal damage (by fire) Research this type of law (key words to help your research): Criminal damage Western Australian law Criminal law in relation to a minor

6. + Key information for your Inquiry Identify the relevant court in Australia for dealing with the alleged offence or crime and outline the appropriate punishment. Children’s Court (State court) Why would they be tried in the above court? Who would get tried in the Children’s court? What type of offence would they be tried for and a likely type of punishment?

7. + Some ideas for Articles… Share articles between yourselves – Bluetooth them to each other!! Articles must refer to a court proceeding, court case, a criminal activity that can be related to a particular type of law and which court it would tried in. Articles from outside Australia, need to be related to Australian law and how it would be tried in the Australian court system. Some ideas for cases: Lloyd Rayney Case VS the State (Criminal Case) David Jones VS Kristy Fraser-Kirk (Sexual Harrassment – Civil Case) Gina Reinhardt VS Her Children (Civil Case) Virgin Blue Airlines VS Virgin Pilot (Negligence – Civil Case) Three teens charged over Swan View petrol station hold-up