Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 104 - 103: The Simple Procedure Begins, Defending with Love at First Sight?

Chapter 104: Chapter 103: The Simple Procedure Begins, Defending with Love at First Sight?

(Although Author Germ was having a meeting, they still used the lunch break, afternoon rest, and evening time to code out this Chapter for everyone. There was no way around it—the friends in the group were urging so urgently that they were even about to send blades. Author Germ was scared~)

(P.S.: It’s really uncomfortable to type on a phone, I will never use a phone again, it’s too inefficient, and it hurts the eyes...)

...

The City Court.

2nd floor, Room B, referred to as the 2B Small Courtroom.

Prosecution, a prosecutor from the Central District Procuratorate’s Office, Chai Ping.

Defense, a defense attorney from the Jincheng Law Firm’s Criminal Division, Zhang Wei.

As the judge announced, six jurors were already seated in silence, waiting for the prosecution’s opening statement.

"Your Honor, we request to add a criminal history before the start of the trial!"

Chai Ping shook the suit on his body and stood up.

The content he had proposed did not surprise Zhang Wei.

The other party had already mentioned this item when they were "talking tough."

"Prosecutor, what are you proposing?" asked the judge.

"The Mr. Tian standing in the defense dock has engaged in indecent behavior in public places, not once or twice, but a total of three times. We request that this item be added to the current trial and that your honor allows us to question Mr. Tian about this criminal record during the trial!"

"Your Excellency, the defense strongly opposes this. What Mr. Tian has done in the past is completely unrelated to the current charges!"

Zhang Wei naturally disagreed with the request Chai Ping had made and quickly expressed his opposition.

"Who says it’s unrelated? Our witness can testify that the defendant engaged in the same indecent behavior described in the criminal record before he was arrested!"

"But that is hearsay evidence; it’s nothing but the word of your witness!"

"But this is not during the trial yet, whether to accept it is for the judge to decide!"

Unyielding to Zhang Wei’s skepticism, Chai Ping even approached the judge, handing over the criminal records for his review.

After looking at it, the judge nodded, "The court permits it!"

"Just as I thought, the judge, seeing my youth, decided to give face to the prosecutor!"

Watching the judge make a decision, Zhang Wei was helpless and could only pat Tian Lixiong’s shoulder in consolation.

The latter seemed to become even more pessimistic over this matter, his expression somewhat desolate.

But that was exactly the effect Zhang Wei wanted!

In the spectator seats.

Seeing that the judge had granted the prosecutor’s request, Tie Ruyun shook his head.

"This case is a bit suspenseful, ah. The defendant already has a bad record, and now a criminal history is added. Once it’s brought up in court, it’s likely that the jury won’t believe him!"

Li Yueqin and the other two understood as well, it seemed that Zhang Wei was in a precarious situation.

In the courtroom.

"Alright, then, let’s begin the trial!"

The judge pounded the gavel and announced the start of the trial.

The prosecution called its first witness, the Martial Association personnel who had arrested Tian Lixiong.

Since it was an attempted solicitation charge, naturally, it wasn’t the tricky detectives from the major case division who were sent out, but a regular field agent.

Chai Ping started the questioning, and the field agent answered fluently.

In no time, details of Tian Lixiong’s arrest began to become clear.

The six jurors watched the field agent give his testimony and all unconsciously nodded their heads.

Zhang Wei saw how the jurors were reacting and narrowed his eyes.

"It looks like the jurors all choose to believe the field agent. If I go up to cross-examine him, there could be some repercussions!"

The statement continued.

"May I ask, when you took the defendant to the holding cell, did you discover any other criminal records for the defendant?"

Chai Ping suddenly asked.

This question made Zhang Wei silently scoff; the knife had finally been thrust out.

"Yes, I discovered that the defendant had thrice exposed his genitals in public places, which are serious indecent acts!"

"Thrice exposed in public places, are you sure?"

"Positive!"

Although Zhang Wei knew that Chai Ping was doing this deliberately, the reiteration certainly drew all the jurors’ attention.

"Thank you, I have no further questions for this witness," said Chai Ping as he walked back to the prosecutor’s bench and threw a mocking smile at Zhang Wei.

"Witness, thank you for your investigation. If it weren’t for you, I believe the jury would still be unaware of so many unsavory records of my client!"

After thanking the field agent, Zhang Wei continued with a question: "Please, field agent, when you were reviewing the criminal record, did you notice that my client had given a reason for each incident?"

"Are you referring to his self-defense?"

"Correct, do you still remember what it was?"

"Uh..."

The field agent was somewhat speechless, but seeing that the jury was also looking at him, he honestly opened his mouth: "He said that his ’little brother’ wanted to come out and get some sun..."

No sooner had he spoken than someone on the jury laughed.

There were also people in the audience who couldn’t hold back.

Even Tie Ruyun’s mouth twitched, but being seasoned, he held back.

Zhang Wei ignored the laughter around him, and without asking the judge for silence, continued with his questioning:

"So, may I ask if my client exposed his genitals to a female on all three occasions?"

The field agent thought for a moment, then shook his head: "There wasn’t that, one time he took off his pants during a parade in an amusement park, another time was in a city park, and another time was at..."

"Does that mean my client might be telling the truth, and he really just wanted his ’little brother’ to get some sun?"

As soon as he said this, someone on the jury laughed again, the sentence indeed having a hint of humor.

"Objection, the lawyer is testifying himself, speculating without factual basis!"

Facing Zhang Wei’s statement, Chai Ping immediately stood up, raising an objection.

"Sorry, Your Honor, I retract my previous question!"

Just as the judge was about to use his gavel, Zhang Wei had already admitted his error.

In the audience.

"This kid’s got guts!"

Tie Ruyun, looking at Zhang Wei’s performance, was already half convinced by what he had read on the resume.

He analyzed to Li Yueqin and the others: "The speculation raised by Zhang Wei, he knew it would be opposed by the prosecution, but he still brought it up. This is a tactic; the jury doesn’t care about what the judge or the prosecution says, they only care about what they’ve heard."

"This tactic can be used by both the defense and the prosecution to draw the jury’s attention in court, and many experienced lawyers use it. This move can instill a concept in the jurors, and the prosecution’s objection will only reinforce that concept!"

As Tie Ruyun spoke, he inwardly praised the cleverness.

Though this tactic seemed simple, it tested one’s ability to think on their feet, and typical new lawyers, worried about objections, rarely dare to raise questions they know will meet resistance.

Moreover, newcomers couldn’t match Zhang Wei’s composed performance in court, as if these questions came to him naturally.

If it weren’t for the resume stating Zhang Wei had just graduated, he might have thought Zhang Wei was an experienced senior lawyer.

Li Yueqin and the others were like spectators throughout, simply observing Zhang Wei’s performance without daring to make any comments.

In the courtroom.

"I would like to ask the field agent, after arresting my client, did you consider taking him to see a psychologist?"

"Huh?"

The field agent was confused by Zhang Wei’s question. Why should someone be taken to a psychologist after being arrested?

"It’s simple, didn’t you investigate my client’s criminal record? Then, I would like to ask, besides indecent behavior in public places, does he have any other criminal records?"

"No, there isn’t."

"So wouldn’t that indicate, aside from liking to let his ’little brother’ sunbathe, he has no other criminal records?"

Zhang Wei said this, shrugging: "Don’t you think this could be a sort of psychological illness?"

"Objection!"

Chai Ping stood up again: "The defense did not propose mental health as a defense during the pretrial, and this case is not about the defendant’s criminal record but about his attempted solicitation of prostitution..."

"Oh, the prosecution is aware of this matter? But wasn’t it you who took the initiative to add the criminal record?"

Facing Chai Ping’s rebuttal, Zhang Wei gave a cold laugh, turning the tables.

"Order!" The judge finally knocked his gavel, interrupting the two.

"Prosecutor, the defense is correct; it was you who initiated the inclusion of the criminal record, so discourse and clarification regarding criminal records are within the acceptable range of this court!"

After addressing Chai Ping, he looked toward Zhang Wei: "Although the court allows questions concerning criminal records, please be mindful of their relevance, as the subject of this court’s trial is still the defendant’s attempted solicitation of prostitution."

"Your Honor, the defense understands!"

Zhang Wei quickly bowed his head in acknowledgment.

"Then let’s proceed with the trial, the witness needs to answer the question!"

Seeing the judge look towards him, the field agent could only answer: "I didn’t consider psychological issues at that time, and I am not aware of whether the defendant has any psychological disorders."

Hearing this Q&A, 2-3 members of the jury showed a contemplative expression.

Zhang Wei saw this and smiled.

"Thank you for your answer. The defense has no further questions for this witness!"

The field agent left the witness stand.

Not pleased with the first witness’s testimony, Chai Ping immediately stood up to summon the next one.

"The defense calls Miss Wu, one of the parties involved, to testify!"

Miss Wu, naturally, was the woman involved in the solicitation case.

Her surname was Wu, and the two characters that followed were as much a title as they were a profession.

Miss Wu’s appearance could only be described as average, wearing a multicolored overcoat that complemented her occupation perfectly, both enhancing each other.

When the witness sat down, Chai Ping approached her.

"Witness, please tell everyone, what is your profession?"

"I am in the service industry!"

"What kind of service?"

Miss Wu looked at Chai Ping, her face full of surprise.

Her expression seemed to question: Are you serious with this question?

Seeing that Chai Ping didn’t respond, she could only look around and say, "The work done in ancient brothels is now done by us!"

This answer was enough for everyone in the courtroom to understand.

"Then, may I ask, the so-called services, were they provided to this gentleman?"

This time Chai Ping was pointing at Tian Lixiong when he asked.

"Of course..."

Miss Wu glanced at Tian Lixiong, but then shook her head and said, "No!"

"Hmm?" Chai Ping’s expression stiffened.

This answer was somewhat unexpected.

"What are you looking at me for? I was just about to take the job when the cops came!"

Faced with Miss Wu’s reply, Chai Ping had an interesting expression.

"In that case, may I ask, do you know the defendant in the courtroom?"

"Of course I’ve seen him. Although I meet dozens of men every week, his characteristics are quite distinctive!"

"Alright, may I ask what you were doing before the operation staff arrested you? Were you about to offer the accused a sale..."

"Objection!"

Chai Ping’s question was directly interrupted by Zhang Wei.

"Hearsay evidence, unsupported by facts, false accusation!"

The judge nodded, looking at Chai Ping, "Objection sustained!"

The latter’s complexion turned to annoyance; he glared at Zhang Wei, who couldn’t care less.

"Witness, did you agree on some kind of service transaction with the defendant?"

"Objection, false accusation, there is no transactional information in the Martial Association case record, my client and the witness had no financial transactions!"

Chai Ping’s second question was again interrupted by Zhang Wei.

The former’s complexion turned ugly, yet Zhang Wei remained nonchalant.

Because it was a fact, they hadn’t even settled on a price when the man was already arrested.

"This..."

Chai Ping, looking at Zhang Wei’s performance, felt incredibly irritated.

He opened his mouth, but then realized Zhang Wei was about to stand up again.

"Hmph, I’ll leave this woman to you!"

Chai Ping, helpless, ended the cross-examination with a cold snort.

"Your Honor, the defense has no questions for the witness!"

Zhang Wei naturally would not cross-examine her and quickly ended the cross-examination.

In the jury box, the jurors exchanged looks, completely taken by surprise by how quickly the questioning of this witness had ended.

In the gallery.

"That’s it?"

Everyone, including Li Yueqin, could not understand what had just happened.

"This move is called the small ball strategy, using various means to disrupt the statements of the prosecution and the witness. Since this case is being tried via a simplified procedure without supporting physical evidence, the prosecution cannot submit evidence to corroborate the questioning. That’s what the young fellow Zhang Wei seized upon, leading to subsequent constraints."

"As for Zhang Wei not questioning, he probably feared the witness wouldn’t cooperate. Women in that line of work are used to all sorts of situations, many are even frequent visitors to prison; they don’t care whether you’re on the prosecution or defense side. Asking fewer questions may lose some opportunities to prove the case but also reduces the risk of error!"

Hearing Tie Ruyun’s thorough analysis, Li Yueqin and the others all nodded unconsciously.

They contemplated whether they needed to take notes on this information, seeming like it was valuable.

In the courtroom.

"Your Lordship, the prosecution has finished presenting the case!"

"Understood, now it’s the defense’s turn!"

Seeing the judge turning his gaze to himself, Zhang Wei stood up and declared, "Your Honor, the defense calls the defendant Tian Lixiong to testify!"

Tian Lixiong, with his head down, walked step by step towards the witness stand.

During this, he glanced at the jury box, but when he realized everyone was looking at him, he quickly lowered his head again.

His performance was observed by everyone present.

Zhang Wei approached the witness stand and began to ask questions.

"Mr. Tian, do you know Miss Wu, the witness who just testified?"

"Of course, I was taking a walk in the street that day and saw her at the mouth of an alley. Our eyes met briefly, and then I felt an affection for her, and I fell in love with her at first sight..."

"Um?"

Hearing Tian Lixiong’s account, Chai Ping from the prosecution’s side was stunned once again.

What’s this, love at first sight? Wasn’t this about prostitution and solicitation?

Not just him, even the six people in the jury were dumbfounded.

Love at first sight with a lady of the night, are you kidding?

"May I ask, Mr. Tian, what happened next?"

"Right at that moment, my ’little brother’ told me he wanted to come out and get some sunshine..."

"Pfft!"

As soon as he said this, someone in the courtroom could not hold back and nearly burst into laughter.

The judge in the courtroom also changed from his previously serious demeanor, his eyes widening as he looked at the witness stand.

"What did you say, you exposed yourself?"

"Yes, Your Honor, I indeed did that!"

Seeing Tian Lixiong’s response, Zhang Wei asked immediately, "Since the judge has brought it up, could you explain to everyone why you did that?"

Tian Lixiong hesitated for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts.

"Actually, I was too excited at that time, so I didn’t know how else to express my adoration for Miss Wu, and I let my ’little brother’ speak for me."

As he spoke, he looked toward the jury with a helpless expression, "You know, I’m no handsome guy..."

Indeed, that was true, and some of the jury members cast sympathetic glances at him.

"So what happened after that?"

"Miss Wu took my hand and led me into a room down the alley."

"Wait a moment!"

Just then, the judge spoke up.

He looked at Tian Lixiong with a look of astonishment, "A strange woman takes your hand and leads you into an alley, and you have no suspicions?"

"At that time, all I could hear in my mind was a voice telling me to follow her, so that’s what I did."

The judge had nothing to say in response to this answer; it was just beyond comment.

Zhang Wei continued to ask questions.

"May I ask Mr. Tian, did you know what profession Miss Wu was in at the time?"

"I didn’t know!" Tian Lixiong shook his head immediately.

"What happened after that?"

"After that, all I remember is the police rushing in, shouting about a crackdown on prostitution, and then I was handcuffed."

"Thank you for your answer, I have no further questions!"

Zhang Wei returned to the defense’s seat with a slight smile.

This time, Chai Ping didn’t stand up either; he simply picked up a notebook from the table and began questioning Tian Lixiong.

"According to the record, after a brief exchange of looks with you, Miss Wu offered you a number. The number was 300, and you nodded. How do you explain this? Isn’t this a prearranged monetary transaction?"

Tian Lixiong looked down at himself, then said with a helpless expression, "I thought she was guessing my weight; I assumed she liked guys who weigh 300 pounds."

"Your Honor, I must clarify something at this point!"

At that moment, Zhang Wei stood up, "In today’s world, love is free; no one can dictate that a lady cannot like a man who weighs 300 pounds, right?"

"Ah, this..."

Faced with this reply and Zhang Wei’s interjection, Chai Ping was at a loss for words.

In the jury box, the jurors all wore incredulous expressions.

They thought there might actually be some reason to what Zhang Wei said; after all, love is free, isn’t it?

In the spectators’ gallery.

"This guy actually brought it up, I thought he was joking!"

Tie Ruyun’s mouth twitched several times as he watched Zhang Wei’s addition.

After meeting with the client on Wednesday, he thought Zhang Wei was joking. He didn’t expect him to go through with it.

And the kicker was that such an outrageous defense argument had actually swayed the jury.

This, by all that’s holy, Zhang Wei had turned his whole world upside down!

As for Li Yueqin and her companions, they were completely unable to follow the proceedings.

When had court trials become so difficult? This was nothing like what they had understood before?