Courtroom Case: Theft of Property
Case: State v. Tonee
Plaintiff (Prosecution): State of California
Defendant: Tonee
Judge: Court is now in session. Prosecution, please proceed with your opening statement.
Prosecutor:
Thank you, Your Honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we present the case against
Tonee Bande, charged with theft. On the night of August 15th, 2024, security footage shows
Tonee stealing a high-end laptop valued at $2,000 from the local electronics store,
TechWorld.
We will show that Tonee had the intent to steal, and her actions were deliberate.
Judge: Thank you. Defense, your opening statement.
Defense Attorney:
"Thank you, Your Honor. Members of the jury, my client, Tonee Bande, is innocent. While
she was at TechWorld, the facts do not support a theft charge. The footage is unclear and
can be interpreted differently. Tonee may have briefly placed the laptop in her bag to
examine it, but there was no intent to steal. The prosecution has not proven otherwise."
Judge: Thank you. Prosecution, please call your first witness.
Prosecutor:
I call Ms. Angel Carzon, the store manager, to the stand.
[Mr. Angel Carzon, Store Manager, takes the stand]
Prosecutor:
Ms. Angel Carzon, can you tell the court what you observed on the night of August 15th?
Ms. Angel:
Yes, I was at the front counter when I saw Ms. Tonee walk into the store. I noticed her
browsing, and after a few minutes, I saw her walk over to the display table with laptops. I
then observed her place a laptop into her bag and start to leave the store without paying.
When I approached her, she turned quickly and tried to leave, but I managed to stop her
and call security.
Prosecutor:
Thank you, Ms. Angel. No further questions, Your Honor.
Defense Attorney:
Ms. Angel, you mentioned that you saw Tonee put the laptop in her bag. Did you actually
see her take it out of the bag or try to leave the store with it?
Ms. Angel:
No, I didn’t see her leave with it. I just saw her trying to exit the store, and I confronted her
immediately.
Defense Attorney:
So, you didn’t actually see her steal it?
Ms. Angel:
No, I did not.
Defense Attorney:
Thank you, Ms. Angel. No further questions.
Judge: Thank you. Prosecution, please call your second witness.
Prosecutor:
I call Heinrich, a passerby of said crime, to the stand.
[Heinrich, passerby, takes the stand]
Prosecutor:
Heinrich, can you tell the court what you observed on the night of August 15th?
Heinrich:
Yes, I just happened to pass by the store on the same night, when I saw Tonee facing the
laptop for a considerable amount of time as if she was deliberating on stealing it. Then all of
a sudden, she was going to the exit and Ms. Carzon immediately apprehended her.
Prosecutor:
Thank you, Heinrich. No further questions, Your Honor.
Defense Attorney:
Did you see Ms. Tonee try to leave the store without anything on her hands?
Heinrich:
I saw Tonee leave the store without anything on her hands
Defense Attorney:
Thank you, Heinrich. No further questions.
Judge: Thank you, Heinrich. Defense, you may call your defendant.
Defense Attorney:
I call Ms. Tonee to the stand.
[Tonee, Defendant, takes the stand]
Defense Attorney:
Emily, can you explain what happened at TechWorld on the night of August 15th?
Tonee:
Yes. I went into the store to look at a laptop. I picked it up and placed it in my bag to take a
closer look at it. I was considering buying it, but I didn’t feel ready to make the purchase. As
I was walking toward the door, I heard someone call out to me. I got scared, so I turned to
leave quickly, but I was stopped.
Defense Attorney:
So you never had the intent to steal?
Tonee:
No, absolutely not. I was just holding the laptop to see if I wanted to buy it, and I was
planning to pay for it once I decided.
Defense Attorney:
Thank you, Emily. No further questions, Your Honor.
Judge: Thank you, Tonee. We’ll now hear closing statements. Prosecutor, your closing
statement.
Prosecutor:
"Members of the jury, the evidence is clear: Tonee was seen on video stealing a laptop and
trying to leave without paying. Her claim of an accident doesn't hold up. This was theft, and
we ask you to hold her accountable."
Judge: Defense, your closing statement.
Defense Attorney:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the prosecution has not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that
Tonee intended to steal. The footage is unclear, and the store manager couldn’t confirm the
laptop was taken. Tonee was just shopping, with no intent to steal. We ask that you find her
not guilty."
Judge: Thank you, counsel. The jury will now deliberate.
