Gruff siblings found innocent
<p>Trey Kimmel, a third-grader at Skyway Elementary, playing Wee L. Gruff, gives testimony in a Kootenai County courthouse Friday during a mock trial based on the fairy tale "The Three Billy Goat's Gruff" as a way to teach young students about the judicial branch of government.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - The Gruff siblings walked out of the Kootenai County Courthouse on Friday with their horns held high, likely relieved to be able to live happily ever after.
A jury had just found the three goats innocent of trespassing and aggravated assault.
The verdict came at the end of a mock trial staged by third-graders from Skyway Elementary School. Posing as jurors, counsel, witnesses and defendants, the students played out a case brought by the state following an altercation between the goats and Mr. Troll, who sustained injuries after he was allegedly thrust by one of the goats from the top of a bridge.
"Those goats are the worst with their sharp hooves. Clip-clop! Clip-clop!" testified Beau Brown, 10, as he played the role of the Troll. "It's enough to drive even a troll crazy."
He charged that the eldest goat sibling, Williamina E. Gruff, came onto his bridge without permission and attacked him with her horns sending him crashing onto the river rocks below.
The goats claimed they did not think they were trespassing, and their lawyers argued that the alleged assault was self-defense because the Troll threatened to eat them.
Judge Eugene Marano helped two young, robed arbiters preside over the courtroom drama.
It was the 14th time Marano joined his wife, Paula, to participate in a mock fairy tale trial for young students.
Paula Marano, a retired Coeur d'Alene school teacher, returned this year to continue the tradition. This time as a volunteer.
The former educator smiled as she watched student Marlee Lambert, playing the role of Williamina E. Gruff, react to the prosecuting attorney's closing statement urging the jury to find the goats guilty.
"As a teacher, that's what you like to see. You know it's sinking in," Marano said.
The student jurors later told their Skyway teachers that they found the goats innocent for three reasons - the troll didn't own the bridge, it was the only way to get to the green grass, and they agreed with the self-defense argument.
The fairy tale trial pulls together much of what the students study in third grade, said teacher Margaret Campbell.
"Our content in social studies is about our community and local government and history," Campbell said.
After the trial, Judge Marano fielded questions from the students about his job.
"Is it fun? Ninety-nine percent of the time it's not, but it's a job that has to be done," Marano said.
Child abuse cases are the most difficult, he said.
When asked what he does "in the back room," Marano smiled and told students it was a secret, but then explained that the judge's chambers are where they read, research and prepare for court.
"And no, I don't know Judge Judy," Marano said.