<p>Worrying about whether the stduent is lying about a project that is due a few days is toying in drama.</p>
<p>Because it doesn’t matter whether the student is lying or not.</p>
<p>The student will either do something for the event or not.</p>
<p>If not, they obviously didn’t use the time between the (possibly fake) computer disaster and now to perform the task.</p>
<p>If they do present, give 'em a grade on that presentation.</p>
<p>If they protest the grade based on the event, calmly ask for verification of that event (due by COB that day) and then . . . AFTER the student demonstrates the disaster . . . decide whether to take that into account. </p>
<p>No rumination without demonstration :-)</p>