A man was convicted of a sexual assault that he did not commit Wednesday night, and the verdict was decided by people off the street who were watching the trial.

A mock rape trial, which was part of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, was held in the Swen Parson Law School moot courtroom at 8:30 p.m. About 60 people were present.

“I think the trial gave people a more realistic idea of what a sexual assault trial was all about. And that’s what we want to do—increase awareness and let people know the facts and realities instead of the myths,” said Kathy Guimond, Sexual Assault Task Force co-chairman.

Students played the parts of the people involved in the sexual assault trial, said Margret Phillips, Sexual Assault Task Force co-chairman.

Laurel Bradley played the victim, Keith Grant played the detective testifying in the case and Garth Seiple played the part of the man accused of the sexual assault, Phillips said. All three “actors” are third-year NIU law students, she said.

Phillips said Assistant State’s Attorney Kim Roddick and DeKalb attorney Scott Erwin were the lawyers in the trial. The 12 jury members were mostly law students, she said.

The fictional characters involved in the trial were named Joan and George Smith. Joan was married to George’s brother. According to the “testimony” in court, George came to Joan’s house on the morning of February 15, 1985 and sexually assaulted her.

Roddick said the trial reenacted an actual trial, and the man accused of sexual assault was convicted and did serve a prison term.

At the end of the mock trial the jurors said they were a “hung jury,” meaning they were unable to reach a verdict. The jury then asked the audience to decide whether or not the man was guilty. A show of hands revealed that the majority of the people thought he was guilty.