Although the case is fictional, the unique experience for Crawford College La Lucia matrics, Tharin Pillay, 16, and Caton Schutte, 17 at the International High School Moot Court Competition, will be close to the real thing.

They will be joining 11 other South Africans who will take on 15 international teams from Russia, Argentina and the US, among others.

The competition gives high school pupils an opportunity to argue at The Hague, to develop knowledge of the International Criminal Court and international criminal law, as well as exchange ideas with pupils from other countries.

Pillay and Schutte have experience in the moot court arena, having reached the finals of last year’s National Schools’ Moot Court Competition in Pretoria.

A confident Schutte, who plans on studying international law after school, was motivated to attend this year’s competition. “We’ve been given the resources and cases to prepare for the competition. We also had a training session in Pretoria last week where we got to work on our arguments.

“I’m really excited to argue, to meet new people and to learn (about) new cultures, but there are a lot of nerves.

“I enjoy it (competing), but there are a few butterflies in my stomach.”

Pillay, who will be one of the youngest participants, goes into the competition having won last year’s national award for Best Orator.

“There is a bit of pressure, but this competition is different. Where there were two of us on a team in nationals, there are now three people and I’m working with different people,” said Pillay, explaining that within each country, there were two teams divided into prosecution and defence, with members made up from different provinces.

“We’re all from different parts of South Africa so there is a language barrier and that comes its own challenges.”

However, he said the workshop, held at the University of Pretoria, gave them invaluable grounding going forwards.

“We have no idea what to expect, but it’s really exciting.”

Students will participate in multiple-elimination rounds at a Hague law school with two international teams emerging as the finalists. The final round will take place at the Peace Palace in The Hague with international judges presiding.

The team leaves for the Netherlands on Saturday. The competition runs from January 21 to 24.