Taylor Edsel: Arsonist or Innocent?

Taylor Edsel, a former arsonist, is on trial for a fire destroying Nash Electromotive production facility on July 4, 2016. Edsel had set several fires in the past, but after spending time in jail she was released and received a second start in life working for Dre Nash.

Nash was on his way to making history in the auto industry, creating a car that incorporated both electric and fuel cell technology. Although Nash was running into some difficulties with production he never had the chance to meet the deadline for his new car: the Nash Flash. His production facility was destroyed in a massive fire on the 4th of July.

The Mock Trial J-Term at Episcopal Academy worked on this fictional case for two weeks, developing arguments on both sides: prosecution and defense. Students in this class back their arguments up well, confident in their research and knowledge of the case.

Bryce Nabulsi, a 10th grader playing the role of Taylor Edsel in the trial presents a strong argument from the side of defense. “Taylor had no motive to set the fire. It is true she had committed previous arsons, but those fires were set with good intentions. Since then Taylor has gone through rehabilitation and was hired by Dre Nash. Taylor’s ideas benefited the Nash’s company and she began to get back on her feet. Nash and Taylor became close friends. She didn’t set the fire at the production facility.”

Nabulsi brings up a solid argument defending Edsel, but 9th grader Lauren creates a strong case against the defendant, playing the role of a prosecution lawyer during the J-Term. “Taylor was the one to commit the arson, Taylor committed two prior arsons as a child and a teenager. In both of these fires she used tennis balls, lighter fluid and a zippo lighter. At the crime scene a zippo, traces of lighter fluid, and tennis ball rubber was found. Taylor was also the only person at the scene. She has to be guilty.”

Both Nabulsi and Bassett speak highly of their experiences in the Mock Trial J-Term. “I am very invested in the case, and it was extremely interesting to get a sense of how a criminal trial would work in a real court of law. Going to the trial and having to memorize all of my answers was very stressful, but when I got there, I found myself truly slipping into the part of Taylor Edsel,” Nabulsi states.

The case has not been closed yet, and it is still not clear if Taylor Edsel is guilty for setting the fire.