Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 293 - 291: Contempt of Court? Scapegoat Witness?

Chapter 293: Chapter 291: Contempt of Court? Scapegoat Witness?

"You’re talking nonsense!"

The sudden outburst from Gao Xiaoping was totally unexpected by everyone.

Although Zhang Wei knew the client had a bad temper, he hadn’t anticipated that she would be so bold!

To roar in court!

And to do so facing the judge, facing Old Guo, she outright cursed.

All eyes in the room, all fixed on the defense bench, centered on Gao Xiaoping, who was sitting next to Zhang Wei.

After the initial shock, a sly smile suddenly crept over Guo Wufeng’s lips.

"Your Honor, is the defendant bellowing in the courtroom? What does she think this place is, that she can be so presumptuous!"

What an opportunity, a chance to ride the wind! Guo Wufeng would not let it slip by.

He then looked at Zhang Wei, his face brimming with mockery: "And the defense attorney, can you please control your own client? In this sacred courtroom, your actions are nothing short of contempt for the court. Have you no respect for judges in your heart, no respect for order anymore?"

Alright then.

Zhang Wei admitted that facing the opponent’s firepower was indeed quite irritating.

But who let them have the advantage now?

Look around, the 12 pairs of eyes from the jury, the way they’re looking at his client.

They viewed Gao Xiaoping as if she were a criminal, their eyes filled with aversion and disdain.

With a helpless sigh, Zhang Wei slowly stood up and pressed Gao Xiaoping back down.

"Madam Gao, I must have told you, if you can’t even control your own temper, how can you expect the jury to believe you!"

"I... I can’t stand them slandering me!" Gao Xiaoping realized there was a problem, but she still refused to back down.

"I can’t stand it either, but I can control my temper, at least I won’t lash out at the judge and, suddenly, let out such an outburst in court!"

Zhang Wei chuckled and glanced at the bench.

Based on his guess, the judge wouldn’t turn a blind eye to that outburst.

Even if Judge Liu wanted to keep the peace, Old Guo probably wouldn’t let him.

In fact, Judge Liu was weighing his options.

"Should I bang the gavel, to bang or not to bang, and what to do after banging? This is my first time facing this Zhang Wei, will he hold a grudge against me?"

The thought of Zhang Wei’s nickname, "Homicide Lawyer," made Judge Liu nervously uneasy.

"Your Honor, what are you hesitating about!"

As Zhang Wei said, Guo Wufeng was in a position to press his advantage, and he wouldn’t miss such a chance.

"The defendant’s behavior just now was not only an interruption of my speech, but she is also challenging your authority, Your Honor!"

"You have already cautioned her once before, yet she knowingly repeated the offense. It’s just like when she received the notice after the medical regulations were updated in Dongfang Capital, she still did as she pleased, showing complete disregard for others!"

"Your Honor, if you tolerate this again, it will only embolden the defendant’s conduct. Please, as a judge, show the mettle you ought to have!"

Guo Wufeng’s successive remarks made the severity of the situation clear to Judge Liu.

Thud, thud!

The latter indeed banged the gavel.

"Defendant, this court believes that your behavior just now was an outright contempt of court. The court had previously made it clear to you not to get agitated and not to make excessive gestures, but you have shown no sign of repentance!"

"The court now declares, you are held in contempt of court. Until it is your turn to speak, you must remain silent, and after the court adjourns, I will hold you in temporary detention for contempt of court, hoping you will calm down during these few days!"

Judge Liu didn’t quite like doing this, but as a judge, he had to maintain the dignity of the court.

After making the declaration, he looked at Zhang Wei: "Defense attorney, does your side have any objections to the court’s declaration?"

"Your Honor, the defense has no objections. Likewise, on behalf of my client’s irrational behavior, I apologize to the court and to everyone in the jury and public gallery!"

Zhang Wei humbly bowed deeply in apology to everyone present.

His attitude was very proper, but whether these people accepted it kindly was another matter.

"Lawyer Zhang, are you just going to let them detain me like this?"

Seeing Zhang Wei bow and apologize, and not even defending her, Gao Xiaoping was about to flare up again.

"Madam Gao, if you lose your temper again, I will terminate our cooperation immediately!"

"If you show contempt for the court twice and bellow at the judge in court, the Lawyer’s Association will determine that you have no intention to cooperate. Even if I unilaterally terminate our employment relationship, it will not breach professional ethics. Do you understand your situation now?"

Zhang Wei was not going to indulge this woman. She might have a quick temper, but his was no less fiery.

A lawyer is not in the service industry; there’s no need to fawn over clients. It is a cooperative relationship.

A lawyer like him can certainly choose who to represent. Why should one offer assistance while enduring disrespect at the same time?

At least Zhang Wei couldn’t do that; think of helping others only to be looked down upon by them.

After a stern "warning," Gao Xiaoping had no choice but to settle down.

Although the tightly clenched fists and the grinding of teeth still reminded everyone around her, anger still simmered in her heart.

Yet ultimately, she had some reservations and did not dare to lose her temper at Zhang Wei again.

"I won’t indulge a difficult client!"

Zhang Wei sneered inwardly and then his gaze skipped over Gao Xiaoping and turned to the jury box.

Upon looking at them, his expression darkened a few shades.

The defendant had calmed down, but her earlier outburst had added to the trial’s difficulty.

The 12 jurors were now looking at Gao Xiaoping with deep disdain.

They knew that if this woman could lose control, then wasn’t it possible that she could act irrationally while helping someone give birth?

How could such a life-and-death matter be entrusted to a hot-tempered woman?

Seeing the mood of the jury, if a verdict needed to be made now, 12 votes would be unanimously for guilt!

"This one’s in the bag!"

Similarly, the reaction of the jury did not escape the notice of Guo Wufeng and Zhao Chunming.

As seasoned prosecutors, both men also had plenty of trial experience.

When they saw the jury’s reaction, they knew that as long as they played it safe, victory was assured.

At the spectators’ seats, colleagues from the criminal division all wore tense expressions.

Could it be? Could it really be?

The renowned, the notorious Lawyer Zhang was going to lose?

Even though they were loath to admit it, the jury’s expressions clearly told them they disapproved of the defendant.

Even a newcomer, even one who lacked the ability to read a room, simply had to glance at the jury to understand.

"Lawyer Zhang is going to lose..."

Su Xiaoqian, the most active among the newcomers, muttered under her breath as she watched Zhang Wei in the courtroom.

"Yeah, are we really about to witness the fall of a star on our first court visit?"

"Star is an exaggeration; Lawyer Zhang is at best an emerging talent!"

"Ah, my thousand bucks, there goes my snack money for the month o(╥﹏╥)o..."

In the crowd, perhaps the most heartbroken was Lin Yumeng.

All she remembered was betting 1000 yuan on Zhang Wei’s victory.

It seemed that her money was about to take flight from her pocket.

"That girl with the about-to-cry face, could she be the daughter of that fatty from the Lin family?"

In a corner of the jury box, another person had noticed the change in Lin Yumeng’s expression—it was Hua Chaofan.

"This is rather curious, that fatty doesn’t look anything special, and I’ve heard his wife isn’t much either, but the daughter’s genes are not bad. Could it be..."

"No, no, no, if there really was an issue, the old man Lin Jincheng would absolutely not have tolerated it, and the person with the problem probably would have disappeared already, that old thing has a heart of darkness!"

Hua Chaofan shook his head and shifted his gaze away from Lin Yumeng.

Although she was a junior, his main focus for attending this trial was Zhang Wei.

"This kid is about to lose, his reputation isn’t just empty fame, built on luck, is it?"

Hua Chaofan didn’t quite believe what the Lin family fatty had said, and seeing the situation in court now made him even more convinced of this.

"Hmph, how boring..."

His time was precious, and since Zhang Wei was at a disadvantage, he found it boring to continue watching.

He suspected there would be no chance to witness defense testimony today, and he had other matters to attend to, no need to waste time here.

He stood up and left the courtroom quickly, his movements smooth and practiced.

In the courtroom, Zhang Wei was unaware that a troublesome spectator had left.

He was contemplating how to regain the upper hand.

"Prosecutor, do you have any further questions?"

Judge Liu looked towards Guo Wufeng.

The latter shook his head, a chilly smirk curling his lips.

His objective had been achieved because the testimony of witness Old Yi had informed the jury of one thing.

That the defendant, Gao Xiaoping, had continued to practice medicine illegally despite being explicitly notified, constituting a knowing violation of the law, an aggravated offense!

Add to that his questioning which infuriated her, prompting an irrational outburst.

It could be said, this was a secured victory!

The advantage lay with the prosecution!

"Your Honor, the prosecution has no further questions for this witness!"

"Well then, defense, please begin your cross-examination!"

Following the judge’s announcement, Guo Wufeng returned to the prosecutor’s bench.

Meanwhile, Zhang Wei slowly rose to his feet.

He first gave Gao Xiaoping a warning glance, signaling her not to act rashly, and only then did he approach the witness stand.

"Hello, Old Yi!"

"Hello, Lawyer!"

Old Yi was also a seasoned prosecutor, and arguably the people he dealt with most in his life were defense attorneys like Zhang Wei.

Confronting defense attorneys was his job.

So, facing Zhang Wei, Old Yi was very calm, as if he was just meeting a neighbor.

"Old Yi, how long have you known my client?"

"Didn’t I just say that? I’ve been with the Bei Chong Island Procuratorate for thirty years, and it was just a few years after I moved to Bei Chong Island that the defendant arrived. We’ve known each other for over twenty years."

"Indeed. So according to what you’ve said, you’re not only a witness for the prosecution in this case but also qualify as a character witness for my client, right?"

"Objection!"

Right after Zhang Wei finished speaking, Guo Wufeng immediately stood up.

He could clearly see what Zhang Wei was up to.

Attempting to use a prosecution witness to plead for the defendant.

This move is one that most defense attorneys would not, or dare not, use.

Because prosecution witnesses generally do not take the defendant’s side; they usually stand with the prosecution and are considered adversaries of the defense.

Would you really pin your hopes on an enemy speaking well of the defendant? No joke, such an occurrence is almost impossible.

But Zhang Wei is different; this guy loves tricky strategies, and when necessary, he would even cross-examine an enemy.

Therefore, Guo Wufeng knew that Zhang Wei’s request for Old Yi to act as a character witness was not a spur of the moment whim but definitely had another purpose.

And what he needed to do was to nip this potential variable in the bud.

"Your Honor, the witness list clearly indicates that Prosecutor Yi on the witness stand is a witness for the prosecution, not a defense witness submitted by Lawyer Zhang, and certainly not the defendant’s character witness. If the defense attorney insists on having a prosecution witness vouch for the defendant’s character, the witness has the right to refuse!"

Guo Wufeng’s remark was intended not only for the judge but also as a reminder to Old Yi on the witness stand.

If Zhang Wei asks about trivial personal matters unrelated to the case, you have the right to refuse.

"Indeed, the public prosecutor is correct!"

Judge Liu nodded in agreement, then looked at Zhang Wei, "Defense attorney, please be mindful that the prosecution witness only needs to answer questions relevant to the case!"

"I understand, Your Honor!"

Zhang Wei naturally nodded in agreement, but the curve of his lips still tilted upward.

Obviously, he had a plan.

"Cough cough, then please continue with your questioning!"

Zhang Wei stepped in front of Old Yi and then said with a smile, "Prosecutor Yi, or should I say, the former prosecutor, that would be a more appropriate way to address you, right?"

"Whatever you like."

Old Yi continued to answer with a smile, remaining composed.

"Okay, Old Yi!"

Zhang Wei’s next words caused Old Yi’s smile to disappear.

Who are you, to call me Old Yi, as if we’re close? Can’t you call me the witness?

But Zhang Wei didn’t care about such formalities; what mattered was the content of the questioning.

"Old Yi, I want to ask you, during your tenure as a prosecutor at the Bei Chong Island Procuratorate, did you ever handle any complaint cases related to my client?"

"This..." Old Yi pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "No, there weren’t any."

"For over twenty years, almost thirty, there hasn’t been a single complaint about my client?"

"Indeed, there hasn’t been!"

"Not even a single traffic ticket, or a neighbor’s complaint?"

"No tickets or complaints. If there had been, I would certainly have mentioned them."

Hearing Old Yi’s definitive reply, Zhang Wei smiled, "Doesn’t that suggest that my client is law-abiding and a good citizen?"

"Cough cough!"

No sooner had he finished murmuring than Guo Wufeng on the prosecutor’s bench "timely" coughed.

This was a warning!

A warning to Zhang Wei not to be too clever, still thinking of having Old Yi act as a character witness—do you really think I can’t see or hear?

Zhang Wei was warned, and he immediately smiled apologetically at Judge Liu.

"Old Yi, I’d like to ask if you indeed righteously warned my client at the time, telling her to stop providing medical services to the residents of Bei Chong Island?"

"This..."

Zhang Wei’s question made Old Yi hesitate for a moment.

"At that time, I indeed did notify her..."

"What exactly did you say at the time?"

"I..."

Old Yi recalled, "I found her and then I told her about some regulation changes after the merger, such as a provision regarding medical licenses."

"After that, did you seriously enforce and implement this provision, like checking if my client was still providing midwifery services to pregnant women, ensuring her actions were corrected?"

"This..."

This time Old Yi was truly at a loss for words.

Because years ago, after the regulations came down, he indeed had found Gao Xiaoping and informed her about this matter.

But he didn’t care much at the time and casually said something like "You should be careful, okay?"

After that, Gao Xiaoping continued to help women give birth, and he didn’t intervene further.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to intervene, but that he couldn’t.

Since the regular hospital was a bit far away, requiring more than an hour’s drive, and the villagers living on the edge of the island would have to drive for over two hours to get there, plus many residents made their living by fishing and had no transportation, getting to the hospital was a problem.

Without Gao Xiaoping’s help, it would be very difficult for many pregnant women with limited mobility to reach the hospital on the island.

So, he really did not enforce this regulation strictly at that time.

"Old Yi, I believe my client knows she broke the law, but the responsibility actually isn’t on her..."

Zhang Wei quickly caught the change in Old Yi’s expression and laughed, "The real responsibility lies with you, right? It’s your actions that condoned her breaking the law!"

"Objection!"

Guo Wufeng immediately stood up.

"Your Honor, I believe I’m not mistaken, the former prosecutor of Bei Chong Island completely failed to implement the enforcement of the new regulations. After initially notifying my client once, he did not ensure that the regulations were strictly followed, I think his behavior is the root cause of my client knowingly breaking the law, right?"

"If it weren’t for his indulgence, and had he repeatedly reminded and issued warnings, maybe my client would have changed jobs or retired early a few years ago?"

Zhang Wei also spread his hands, looking innocently at the bench.

"This..." Judge Liu found himself in a difficult spot seeing this.

On one hand, he had to consider Guo Wufeng and the pressure from Zhao Chunming in the witness stand.

On the other hand, what Zhang Wei said also made sense; Old Yi, the former prosecutor, really hadn’t done well in enforcing the regulations.

So, what to do?

"Zhang Wei, I know you want to deflect blame, but you can’t prove the witness actually condoned the defendant!"

"Old Guo, you’re wrong, I can prove it!"

Zhang Wei countered Guo Wufeng’s words.

"How can you prove it?" Guo Wufeng was taken aback, a bad premonition forming in his heart.

Zhang Wei turned to the witness stand and asked with a cold voice, "Old Yi, I want to ask, on one night three years ago, did my client, looking panicked, come to find you? Her car had broken down that day, and she needed to go to the far end of the island to help a family’s daughter with childbirth?"

"This..."

"Did this happen?"

Facing Zhang Wei’s sharp gaze, Old Yi eventually nodded, "...Yes, that happened."

"Alright, then please tell me and everyone else, what did you do that night?"

"I..."

Old Yi hesitated for a moment, glancing at Guo Wufeng and the jury, a hint of uncertainty on his face.

But in the end, he confessed straightforwardly, "Out of fear of delaying and risking the daughter’s life in that family... I, I personally drove her over..."

"This incident happened three years ago, after the new medical regulations came down in Dongfang Capital, right?"

"Yes... yes!"

"So, this means that you didn’t follow the regulations and stop my client from practicing medicine, but actually directly helped her, correct?"

"You could say that, I won’t deny it."

Having explained the previous point, Old Yi admitted it quickly this time.

With his admission, the entire courtroom was astounded.

Well, it turns out, you, the former prosecutor, actually did indulge the defendant.

A subtle shift in the mood of the courtroom became evident.