DOROTHY NOT GUILTY! MOCK TRIAL CLEARS GIRL FROM KANSAS.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - Lions and tigers and defense attorneys, oh, my!

In a clever twist on the classic ``Wizard of Oz,'' children put their newly acquired knowledge of American law to work Thursday, using the L. Frank Baum story as the basis for a trial during the Conejo Valley Adult School's Summer Enrichment Program.

The prosecution tried Dorothy for double murder - first for occupying the tornado-spinning house that dropped on one wicked witch, then for unwittingly dousing the other witch with water, reducing the evil character to a plume of smoke.

After a brief deliberation, the judge, Danielle Zaghian, 9,set Dorothy free with a verdict of not guilty.

``I think the verdict was good because (Dorothy) couldn't control where the house fell and she couldn't have known that the bucket of water would melt the witch,'' said Maggie Derk, 10, one of Dorothy's victorious defense attorneys.

The 9-year-old enrichment program, attended by about 120 third- through eighth-graders, offers instruction in math and science, art, law and public speaking. Thursday's mock trial was performed by the 9- through 11-year- olds.

The youngsters spent weekdays this month at the school, learning from teachers from the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

The weeks before the trial were filled with public speaking lessons, sessions on courtroom lingo and instruction from a real attorney.

The lead prosecutor, 11-year-old Mikie Coleman, said his team did everything it could to prove that Dorothy killed both wicked witches.

``We took all the facts from the case and put them together with our opening and closing comments,'' he said. ``We thought we would win, but the judge was not that great.''

Witnesses such as the Cowardly Lion and one of the witch's flying monkeys were called to the stand, where they were sworn in and testified under oath.

Painted props depicting the witch's eerie castle and the Wizard's green curtain added a sense of drama to the case, in which a young television reporter occasionally narrated during recesses.

Prosecutor Coleman, especially, took the role seriously, pacing before the witnesses as he fired off sarcasm-laced questions, shaking his head pitifully at answers he viewed as ridiculous.

Debbie Starr, a teacher at Glenwood Elementary School who oversaw the weeks of preparation, said using the well-known tale as a backdrop helped inspire the children.

``I helped them a little, but they wrote their own opening and closing comments,'' she said. ``They did a fantastic job. It's fun working with kids that can take a small idea and run with it.''

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3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color in Conejo edition only) Donna Zaghian, portraying defendant Dorothy, is shown how to raise her hand to be sworn in, above, during the summertime mock trial. Prosecuting attorney Mikie Coleman cross-examines Joseph Monjes, playing the Scarecrow, during the trial.

(3) Defendant Dorothy, played by Donna Zaghian, left, is defended by Naggie Derk, center, and Dajon Kwiatkowski.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News