Professor Snape found 'Not Guilty' in murder of Albus Dumbledore by Owl Court jury - Chris Rankin in attendance

Did Professor Severus Snape murder Headmaster Albus Dumbledore or was it assisted suicide? What about the torture of Hermione Granger and murder of Sirius Black by Bellatrix Lestrange? Was Lord Voldemort found guilty of the murder of Lily Potter?

These questions became the focus of a charity fundraising event held by Dereham Sixth Form College yesterday as law students assumed the roles of defense, prosecution, judge and jury, and cross examined witnesses including Harry Potter, cited legal precedents, explained the requirements of each charge and produced evidence culled from films and the Harry Potter book series by author J.K. Rowling.

The verdict:

• Professor Severus Snape was found NOT GUILTY of murder
• Madam Lestrange was found GUILTY of the torture of Hermione Granger and murder of Sirius Black
• Lord Voldemort found GUILTY of the murder of Lily Potter

The vice-chairman of the student council stated "Everyone was serious about it and it was a good way of learning how to prosecute someone."

Chris Rankin - who portrayed Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter films - was also on hand at the event to answer questions about his experiences on set of the most successful franchise in history. And Chris' mother Marilyn Rankin, a soon-to-be-retired teacher, stated, "The event sprang from the A-level law students’ need to understand court procedures and to know and to be able to reference significant legal rulings, so this was all grounded in the curriculum but was end of term levity putting the 'Harry Potter' villains on trial."

Chris Rankin will be leaving the UK soon to attend Ascendio 2012 in Orlando, Florida, and this editor will be excited to chat with him regarding this fundraising event as this particular murder/assisted-suicide event was recently discussed during the MuggleNet Academia lesson on law.

Do you agree with the verdicts from this fundraising event? Let us know in the comments below.