The Trial of Victor Frankenstein

1
The Trial of Victor Frankenstein
2
Prologue
3
Arctic Region, early December, last year
International Territory

• Polar ice-caps melting
• Research vessels to investigate viability of
  Northwest Passage
• U.S. Icebreaker Healy enters Arctic circle

4
Arctic Region, mid December, last
yearInternational Territory

• U.S. Healy meets ship carrying European
  researchers in North Sea, above Arctic Circle.
• Both vessels proceed toward North Pole
• Ships follow route laid by Capt. Robert Walton
  in 1797

5
Arctic Region, late December, last
yearInternational Territory

• Travel is slower than expected

6
Arctic Region, late December, last
yearInternational Territory
Many strange and wondrous sights
7
Arctic Region, late December, last
yearInternational Territory

• Indigenous people have constructed shrines to
  large
• Man of the Ice
• Origin of Man of the Ice story unknown- fact?
  new religion? myth?

8
Arctic Region, end of December, last
yearInternational Territory

• Ice impenetrable
• Ships frozen
• No Northwest Passage exists
• Researchers follow overland route to find help

9
Arctic Region, end of December, last
yearInternational Territory

• Three days after leaving ship, sled-dogs
  massacred
• No Polar Bears in sight, no prints in snow
• Remains left uneaten
• Local Guides afraid Man of the Ice was
  offended

10
Arctic Region, Early January, last
yearInternational Territory

• Local guides abandon journey, leave researchers
  alone on ice
• Snow-blind, hungry, wandering aimlessly

11
Arctic Region, Early January, last
yearInternational Territory

• Researchers wander toward mirage
• Discover Large Blocks of Ice
• Not a natural occurrence

12
Arctic Region, Early January, last
yearInternational Territory

• Researchers find House of Ice

13
Arctic Region, Early January, last
yearInternational Territory
Inside, house is empty, but recently inhabited
14
Arctic Region, Early January, last
yearInternational Territory

• Inside, researchers find sleeping quarters with
  an Ice-Bed and fur blankets

15
Arctic Region, Early January, last
yearInternational Territory

• Also inside, an Ice Sanctuary
• Inside the Sanctuary, encased in a block of ice,
  a human body
• The frozen human clutches a Journal in his hands

16
Arctic Region, Early January, last
yearInternational Territory

• Three days later, research vessels break free
  from ice
• Guided by an unknown light in the darkness,
  research vessels reach the House of Ice
• Origin of guide-light unknown

17
Arctic Region, Early January, last
yearInternational Territory
Footprints of large human found near source of
Guide-Light Footprints vanish into distant ice
fields Man-of-the-Ice never found
18
Arctic Region, Mid January, last
yearInternational Territory

• Human frozen in block of ice is brought aboard
  vessel thawed
• Using techniques in Journal, researchers able to
  re-animate human
• The person is Victor Frankenstein
• Victor tells his story to shocked researchers

19
The Trial
20
Present DayRonald Reagan Federal BuildingU.S.
District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• U.S. Attorney, in conjunction with Interpol, file
  joint criminal suit against Victor Frankenstein
• Alleged crimes
• 1) Crimes Against God Humanity
• 2) Murder (Vicarious Liability)

21
Present DayU.S. District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• Crimes Against God Humanity
• The reproduction and creation of human beings is
  recognized as a sacred process in the Miracle of
  Life, and is best left unaltered by humankind,
  therefore,
• the artificial creation of humans in a laboratory
  setting is prohibited
• This statute was adopted globally and
  retroactively by all member countries of the
  United Nations. It is known as The Prometheus
  Article

22
Present DayU.S. District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• Murder (Vicarious Liability)
• The Intentional or Negligent Killing of another
  Human.
• It is alleged that Victor Frankenstein acted
  negligently, with gross disregard for
  consequences, and is vicariously liable (should
  share responsibility) for the deaths of the
  following persons
• William Frankenstein a minor
• Justine Moritz an employee of the Frankenstein
  Household
• Henry Clerval a friend and acquaintance
• Elizabeth Lavenza-Frankenstein Defendants
  Spouse

23
Present DayRonald Reagan Federal BuildingU.S.
District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• Prosecution
• The U.S. Attorney is eager to prosecute and make
  an example of Victor in this landmark case, in
  order to deter others who might follow Victors
  work.
• Note The U.S. Attorney has dubbed this case
• The Prometheus File

24
Present DayRonald Reagan Federal BuildingU.S.
District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• Defense
• His family fortunes long since depleted, Victor
  Frankenstein has asked the Court to appoint an
  attorney for his defense.
• Victor now maintains that he is a champion of
  humanity, a leader in the quest for knowledge,
  and that a conscientious third- party committed
  the murders of his own volition.

25
Present DayRonald Reagan Federal BuildingU.S.
District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• To conduct a fair and speedy trial, the U.S.
  Attorney and the United States District Court now
  request the assistance of this classroom for
  Prosecution and Defense.
• There are three phases of involvement
• I. Pre-Trial
• II. Trial
• III. Jury Deliberation
• (note participation in Trial Phase is
  contingent upon completion of all Pre-Trial
  work.)

26
Present DayRonald Reagan Federal BuildingU.S.
District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• I. Pre-Trial Phase
• 1. Discovery gather evidence for use in trial
• 2. Pre-Trial Brief short statement of support
  for either prosecution or defense.
• 3. Argument Formal written argument for use in
  Trial.

27
Present DayRonald Reagan Federal BuildingU.S.
District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• I. Pre-Trial Phase
• Discovery all students will gather evidence for
  both prosecution and defense for both counts
  alleged against Victor Frankenstein.
• -all evidence must be found in novel itself or
  from assigned class work.
• -you must gather evidence for both Prosecution
  and Defense, in order to anticipate your
  opponents best argument!

28
Present DayRonald Reagan Federal BuildingU.S.
District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• I. Pre-Trial Phase
• Pre-Trial Brief the Pre-Trial Brief is a short
  written statement, no longer than ½ page, stating
  whether you support either the Prosecution or the
  Defense, based upon the evidence.

29
Present DayRonald Reagan Federal BuildingU.S.
District Court, Santa Ana, CA

• I. Pre-Trial Phase
• Argument the Argument is a persuasive essay,
  two page minimum, stating your major points,
  supported by evidence, concluding that Victor
  Frankenstein should be found either
• -Guilty of crimes alleged, or,
• -Innocent and acquitted of accusations against
• him.
• Note it is crucial that facts be interpreted
  creatively for a convincing argument!