Ethos, Pathos & Logos Used During the Trial

From my understanding when watching the trial and watching the jury deliberate, as well as, reading some of the commentary of those involved with the trial, there were several clear examples of logos, ethos and pathos presented during the mock trial. While each side of the trial tried to represent their beliefs and the evidence they had, the defense was the most effective in doing so, resulting in a not guilty verdict. Their ability to use pathos while describing the defendant was very effective. They painted a picture of who Sandy was as a person; a single parent that experienced the death of a loved one. They described her as a mother of five children, raising them on her own. They also described Sandy as a caring and kind person. The testimony of her renters stated that the defendant has given people breaks by lowering their rent so they could afford to live in her apartment.  The defense made the defendant appear to be a kind hearted individual who would not be capable of executing the crime she was accused of.

The prosecution tried to paint a different picture of the defendant. They tried to make her look like a desperate business owner in fear of losing her business if the victim informed people of the supposed illegal activity being done at the restaurant. The prosecution presented several pieces of evidence such as the murder weapon (with the defendant’s prints on it), which I believe was a great example of logos. However, they were unable to persuade the jury, and in the end their methods were not as effective.

Article submitted by MSTC Student, Wade