Transcript Opening Statements

Opening Statements
“Most trials are won or lost with the
opening statements”
Sample First Lines for a statement:
• This is a very simple case.
• This is a case about [blank] (desperation?
love?)
• Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, during this
case you will hear about [blank]
• If you remember only one thing from this trial,
remember that[blank] (ex. My client is
innocent!)
Opening Statements Must Include:
1. An introduction of the
attorney
• “Good Morning. My
name is Shannon
Rybarczyk and I am
representing Julie
Shiyayo, the defendant
in this case…”
Opening Statements must include:
2. A THEORY of the case:
• On May 31, Julie
Shiyayo shot Beatrice
Singuir in the act of
revenge…”
Opening Statements must include:
3. A Character sketch of
the major
people/companies
involved in the dispute:
a. “Julie Shiyayo was a
battered woman was
little will to survive…”
Opening Statements must include:
4. An explanation of the
charge/defense:
• “You will be asked to
decide whether this was
an act of self-defense,
which will require 3
major things…”
Opening Statements must include
5. An introduction of the
major witnesses for
one’s own side:
“You will meet Aaron
Green, who witnessed
the incident…”
Opening Statements must include
6. The key evidence that
those witnesses will
present:
• “Mr. Green will testify
that Julie Shiyayo was
fighting for her life on
that fateful night…”
Opening Statements must include:
7. A conclusion requesting
a verdict:
• “We ask that you find
the Defendant NOT
GUILTY…”
http://investigation.discovery.com/v
ideos/reasonable-doubt-the-juryopening-statements.html