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Class Trial

Phoenix Wright's first (but not last) trial.

Phoenix Wright's "class trial" was a major event in his childhood that heavily impacted his goals for the future. At the time, Wright was put on trial by his own classmates, and he experienced what it was like to be alone, with no one on his side.

The "crime"

Baby Nick

Wright under pressure.

Wright attended a small elementary school in which all students brought in an envelope with money at the beginning of the month to pay for their lunches for the month. One day, during P.E., Miles Edgeworth's envelope containing $38 was stolen. Wright, who was coming down with a cold and had skipped P.E. that day, was the only one without an alibi. As such, he was accused of the theft and put on "trial" the next day.

The "trial"

Baby Miles

Edgeworth leaps to Wright's defense!

Baby Butz

Butz putting in his two cents.

Despite Wright's claims that he didn't do it, everyone else in the classroom continued to accuse him. Wright was so sad, he couldn't stop crying. Eventually, even the teacher thought that he had done it, and ordered him to apologize. However, Edgeworth objected on Wright's behalf. Edgeworth pointed out that, while everyone kept saying that Wright had done it, no one had any evidence, so Wright couldn't be found guilty of the theft. The class continued to accuse Wright anyway, saying that they didn't need proof, but Larry Butz, the class troublemaker, also stood up for Wright. He accused everyone of ganging up on Wright, and not considering how he felt. Ultimately, the teacher ended the trial, declaring Wright not guilty, and replaced the money.

The aftermath

This event led to Wright, Edgeworth, and Butz becoming best friends. When Wright asked Edgeworth why he had defended him, Edgeworth explained that he wanted to be just like his father, who was a well-known defense attorney. However, after Edgeworth's father was murdered, Edgeworth transferred to another school. The turmoil that Wright felt when he was totally alone, until someone stood up for him, made him vow to help anyone who found himself or herself in the same situation. This event was one of the inspirations for Wright to grow up to be a defense attorney.

The resolution

Over 15 years later, the truth finally came to light. After Edgeworth was found not guilty in his own trial, Butz gave him a "congratulations present" of $38. Butz then admitted that he was the one who had stolen Edgeworth's lunch money, which Edgeworth had suspected all along because he couldn't have seen Butz standing up for Wright any other way.

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