It was the murder trial that wasn't.
It was staged, to give kids an idea of how the courts work.
A person on trial for murder was one of four trials put on by elementary schools in Parkersburg, Vienna and Mineral Wells.
It's all part of a civics education program sponsored by the West Virginia Supreme Court and state board of education.
"This is the first time I've seen a courtroom," said fifth grader Matthew Lebo. "I haven't even seen it on TV. I've never watched court shows like that."
The supreme court opened its mock trial program to fifth graders this year, after the state school board changed its social studies content standards and objectives.
