Children take court to pieces

COURT officials in Liverpool are soon to be seen building Lego with young witnesses in a scheme funded by the taxpayer.

The officials have brought in a three-and-a-half foot long by 18-inch wide model courtroom, which they show to children due to appear in a real court as witnesses.

The Lego model comes complete with a little judge, opposing barristers with wigs and gowns, and 12 jurors. In the midst of it all is a small child in the witness box.

Witness Service Coordinator Norma Canevali says playing with the model will help the children overcome the intense fear they suffer while giving evidence.

She says: "This model will help us show them in advance what to expect. Adults suffer from fear, distress and embarrassment at the prospect of having to give evidence. For children those pressures are more than doubled."