ALAMOSA—Hung jury.

That was the verdict of the all-female jury in the case of People vs. Goldilocks on Monday at Alamosa Elementary.

The girls and boys heard the case in separate rooms at Alamosa Elementary Grades 3-5. Colorado Court of Appeals Judges Karen M. Ashby and Russell Carparelli helped the female students navigate the judicial system as they heard testimony and deliberated the case.

Goldilocks faced charges of trespass and theft in connection with her entrance into the Three Bears’ house without their permission and the subsequent eating of their porridge, breaking a $100 chair and sleeping in their bed.

Since the Mini Moose jury could not come to a unanimous verdict Goldilocks was free to go — after the bell rang.

Students participating in the mock trial on the girls’ side were Adrian Cordova, prosecutor; Elizabeth Esteban, Papa Bear; Lucia Andres, moderator; Trinity Vigil, judge; Guadalupe Lopez, defense attorney; and Kaidy Bohen, Goldilocks.

Goldilocks’ defense was that she was lost and hungry, so her entrance to the Bears’ home was due to an emergency. Finding their door open, she took refuge, nourishment and rest. When the Bears came home, Papa Bear growled at her, so she became frightened and left.

The prosecution argued through their primary witness, Papa Bear, that Goldilocks did not have permission to enter the home or consume porridge, and she broke a $100 chair without apology or restitution.

Students arguing for a not guilty verdict believed Goldilocks’ story and said if she had not gone into the Bears’ home, she might have starved, passed out or fallen and hurt herself.

Those arguing for a guilty verdict believed Goldilocks broke the law by going into a house without permission and taking porridge that did not belong to her. She also broke a chair without offering to pay for it, and if she was too afraid to go back to face Papa Bear, she could have sent the restitution in the mail.

The appellate judges explained that a real trial takes much longer but relies on the same rules of law and ultimately is up to a jury to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not. Because everybody could not agree in this case, Goldilocks would not be convicted or would have to be tried again.

The appellate court judges will hear oral arguments at Alamosa High School today, March 14, in actual cases 16CA1035 Chad R. Robison v. Circle T Land Co., et al. and 16CA0228 People of the State of Colorado v. Marcus Lessard.

Goldilocks’ trial has not yet been rescheduled.

Top: Goldilocks, seated far right, (Kaidy Bohen) and her attorney, Guadalupe Lopez, seated center, study their “legal arguments” as Colorado Court of Appeals Judges Russell Carparelli and Karen M. Ashby explain the trial procedure to Alamosa Elementary students.

Bottom: Judge Karen M. Ashby visits with Mini Moose “jurors” deliberating the case of People vs. Goldilocks at Alamosa Elementary on Monday.

Bottom: Far left Adrian Cordova as the prosecutor questions witness “Papa Bear” Elizabeth Esteban in front of the “jury,” right, during the mock trial at Alamosa Elementary on Monday afternoon.