COEUR d'ALENE - During the first phase of a mock trial Wednesday in teacher Mallory Cook's Street Law class at Lake City High School, freshman student McKenzie Moore gave the defense's opening statement.

The fictional defendant, an 18-year-old high school student named Mark, faces charges of battery, stalking, telephone harassment and disturbing the peace. The alleged victim in the trial enactment: Mark's former girlfriend of 5 months, Sue, who recently turned 18.

The 14-year-old Moore, as defense attorney, told a jury portrayed by her fellow high school students and a judge in robes played by Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor David Robins that her team would show the charges were false.

"The facts and the evidence will show that he was only loving," Moore said.

Because October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the classroom lesson in law and court procedures is also providing the high school students with timely education about teen dating abuse and violence.

The mock trial scenario was provided by Camie Wereley, education and outreach coordinator for the North Idaho Violence Prevention Center.

Wereley regularly spends time in North Idaho schools speaking about teen dating and abuse, and hears from many students about their real experiences.

While the mock trial is a fictional story, Wereley said it represents a compilation, bits and pieces, of real scenarios she has heard from various students.

"One out of three teens find themselves in an abusive relationship," Wereley said. "One out of two, that's 50 percent, admit they have compromised themselves to please a partner."

After opening arguments, the state presented its case in the mock trial. The defense will present its case Friday.

The prosecutor called the alleged victim to the stand. Sue testified she met Mark in chemistry class, and they fell in love. Things were good for a while, Sue said, then Mark became possessive. He asked her to change the way she dressed so other guys wouldn't look at her. Sue alleged Mark texted her constantly asking where she was, constantly checked her Facebook page and posted on it, and became physically abusive when she wanted to get away from him or didn't want to have sex.

Wereley made several visits to the class to discuss the issues surrounding the case, and said engaging the students in this way helps create awareness and empathy.

"They had to research the case," said Tracy Rudd-Heilig, Sexual Assault Program Coordinator at the North Idaho Violence Prevention Center. "They have to think about how this affected everyone involved."

It's important, Wereley said, that students hear the legal terms - stalking, battery, harassment - applied to the behavior, and understand there are consequences.

"It's a chance for them to hear that this type of behavior is considered to be abusive. It's not normal," Wereley said.

Street Law is a class that teaches students about law in everyday life, Cook said. There are lessons about crime, traffic violations, contracts, courtroom procedures, jail and prison structure. The students work regularly with community members involved in law enforcement, the legal system and victims' advocates.

"The mock trial is a fantastic opportunity for students to work on the real-life application of the law toward teen dating violence and abuse," Cook said. "The trial and statements include situations students deal with on a daily basis: Facebook and text messages to show love and affection that could easily be turned into stalking and harassment."

McKenzie Moore said it was eye-opening for her.

"Some things you don't see as abuse until someone points it out," Moore said. "You think, 'Oh, how nice. He cares,' but sometimes it's not just someone caring. It's harassment."

If you need help

n North Idaho Violence Prevention Center provides services free of charge to victims and families of victims of domestic violence, abuse, sexual assault and rape. The center serves Kootenai, Benewah, Shoshone, Bonner and Boundary counties.

24-hour Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Line (208) 661-2522; 24-hour Kootenai County Crisis Line (208) 664-1442; 24-hour Domestic Violence Crisis Line (208) 664-9303.