Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 380 - 378: Shifting the Focus? The Affected Jury

Chapter 380: Chapter 378: Shifting the Focus? The Affected Jury

The prosecution has finished questioning; it’s now the defense’s turn.

Without needing a reminder from Judge Ni, Zhang Wei couldn’t help but stand up.

It couldn’t be helped, the pressure was immense.

Giving Dr. Jessica a reassuring look, Zhang Wei calmly walked toward the witness stand.

On the prosecution’s side, Qin Shaocong wore a sinister expression.

Director Sheng was his trump card, and he had run simulations with them, so he was well-prepared for any responses.

In the audience, Xiao Baihe and Tan Yingying both became nervous.

And there were Xia Qianyue and her father Xia Donghai; both were looking at Zhang Wei, unconsciously clenching their fists.

Even when facing tens of thousands of spectators at a martial arts tournament, Xia Qianyue never felt nervous, but now, as Zhang Wei approached the bench, she couldn’t help but worry for him.

This goes to show that the situation in the courtroom was not at all straightforward.

"Director Sheng, hello!"

Zhang Wei greeted the witness as he got to the stand.

"Heh."

Unfortunately, the response he received was cold.

But Zhang Wei had anticipated such a reaction.

This old guy harbored hostility towards Dr. Jessica.

Because Dr. Jessica had snubbed him, he felt he had lost face and his attitude could hardly be good.

Zhang Wei didn’t mind, instead, he smiled and began questioning, "Director Sheng, although you are a medical expert, I believe many of the testimonies you just provided are not rigorous enough!"

"Oh, which parts aren’t rigorous?" Director Sheng naturally did not indulge Zhang Wei, questioning back.

"For example, the case involving REBOA you mentioned is quite one-sided." Zhang Wei muttered and asked, "For instance, the soldier from the War Department. I would like to ask if the on-site doctor saved his life with REBOA!"

"Heh, but he died a few days later, and he died from sepsis, do you know how much he suffered when he died?"

"What would have been his fate had the combat medic not used REBOA at that time?"

"This..."

"How long could he have lasted?"

"..."

Zhang Wei’s counter-question left Director Sheng at a loss for words.

"Director Sheng, you did say that you are the head of the emergency department, I trust with your current level of expertise, you wouldn’t be unable to judge the situation at the time, right?"

Zhang Wei sneered, pressing harder with his question, "Please tell us, if at that time the doctor had not used the REBOA technique, what would have been the soldier’s ultimate fate?"

"Director Sheng, please answer truthfully. I believe as a professional doctor, you would not lie in this sacred courtroom, right?"

Director Sheng frowned but still admitted truthfully, "If he had not used REBOA at that time and there was no backup blood bank, the soldier might not have lasted 20 minutes!"

"Isn’t that a conclusive point?" Zhang Wei spread his hands.

"If he wasn’t saved at that time, he wouldn’t have lived past 20 minutes, but using the REBOA technique, he was given an extra 10 days."

"Let me ask another question: after the soldier was rescued, did he know that his life was coming to an end?"

"Yes, his comrades did inform him of this news."

"What did the soldier do then?"

"He made a phone call home, then the War Department arranged a plane, brought his family over, and I and my colleagues attended the meeting and explained his situation to his family."

"Which is to say, because of your colleague’s all-out rescue effort, he was able to see his family and say his goodbyes in the last moments of his life, right?"

"That’s right!"

"So, if your colleague had not used the REBOA technique, the soldier would have immediately died without the chance to see his family one last time, and his family would have had to face only his corpse, correct?"

"Yes..."

"Thank you, Director Sheng, for your honesty. I believe everyone is now clear whether the situation at that time required the use of the REBOA technique or not."

Zhang Wei said this and noticed that the jury was already affected by his line of questioning.

It wasn’t just the jury; many people in the listening seats were also looking down, deep in thought.

One must contemplate this kind of situation—REBOA gave the soldier time to see his family.

Without it, he would have been dead on the spot.

It’s a choice anyone could make.

"But the situation then was different from now, what you’re doing is..."

"Director Sheng, have I continued questioning?"

Just as Director Sheng was about to retort, Zhang Wei preemptively interrupted.

This moment caused Qin Shaocong, sitting on the prosecution’s side, to narrow his eyes slightly.

"This Zhang Wei, he reacts quickly, seeing the signs of a turn and immediately adapting!"

Qin Shaocong picked up a pen and began to write on the notebook in front of him.

In the courtroom.

Director Sheng, who had been forcibly interrupted, was very displeased, with a sullen expression on his face.

Zhang Wei, however, did not care about that. You have to answer the questions you are supposed to answer.

"Director Sheng, my first question is about the REBOA technique, but I believe that an excellent doctor is able to judge at the right moment whether this technique needs to be used!"

"And in my view, whether at that time or on that night, it was an emergency situation. My client made her own judgment, and she did what she did merely in the hope of saving more lives!"

"Just like the doctor at that time who only wanted to allow that soldier to make his final farewell to his family, they used REBOA merely to buy time!"

After emphasizing again, many people in the jury nodded repeatedly, and even the hostility towards Jessica that had been apparent earlier had diminished significantly.

This also caused Jessica’s countenance at the defense’s table to slightly improve, while she looked at Zhang Wei with admiration.

"No, actually it’s not the same!" Director Sheng couldn’t help but interject once again.

He had obviously noticed that the atmosphere in the courtroom was very delicate, so even if it meant interrupting, he had to break into Zhang Wei’s speech.

"Not the same, how is it not the same?"

Zhang Wei scoffed as if he had expected Director Sheng would not stay quiet.

"Director Sheng, let me ask you, was that night’s situation extremely urgent?"

"I suppose it was."

"Then let me ask you, how many patients does your emergency department see on an average day?"

"Roughly around 100, and during peak periods, it can even reach 200-300!"

"I believe this is also the reason why you established a medical mutual aid project. The emergency department is indeed too busy, severely understaffed, and the recruitment and training of new doctors take too long. That’s why you thought of those doctors from Dongfang Capital who possess skills and experience but are not part of the hospital system, right?"

"Yes!"

"So let me ask again, how many patients did that day’s car accident add to your workload?"

"Over 50 serious injuries alone, plus all those minor injuries connected to the incident, it was at least another 100 patients!"

"With so many patients, and yet you still say it was not extremely urgent. Director Sheng, is it that you have a heart of stone, and to you, all these patients are just a string of numbers?"

"You... "

"What’s wrong, Director Sheng, are you flustered because I hit the mark with my comment?"

Seeing that Director Sheng had nothing to say in reply, Zhang Wei took the opportunity to further his point.

In that instant, numerous gazes were cast upon Director Sheng.

The latter had never expected that a casual objection would make him the target of collective censure.

"Objection, irrelevant questioning, speculation, and harassment of the witness!"

In a critical moment, Qin Shaocong quickly stood up to interrupt.

His countenance was just as grim.

Because he had not expected, either, that Zhang Wei would use Director Sheng’s words and a series of questions to divert the jury’s firepower.

Those questions in succession didn’t have much logical connection, but to the layperson listening, it sounded as though Director Sheng had misspoken.

Suddenly, the jury’s collective focus on the defendant shifted, turning their crosshairs toward the witness seated before them.

The identities of the two individuals concerned were nearly compatible, and Director Sheng, as the head of the department, held a higher rank and more power.

Even though Director Sheng was a man past forty, not a blonde beauty like the defendant, the jury didn’t base their scrutiny solely on appearances.

So, with just a few words from Zhang Wei, the jury began to look unfavorably upon Director Sheng.

"I apologize, I retract those last remarks!"

Zhang Wei smiled at the bench and quickly admitted his error.

Of course, he also knew that his purpose had already been achieved.

"Judge Ni, I have no further questions for Director Sheng!"

Zhang Wei concluded his questioning and returned to the defense’s table.

What greeted him was the grateful gaze of Jessica.

Zhang Wei also breathed a sigh of relief because, given the current circumstances, the situation seemed to be in favor of their side.

Next, all they needed to do was to see how the prosecution would respond...

Qin Shaocong stood up again, "Judge Ni, we would like to add further questioning!"

Without waiting for Ni Qiuping’s approval, Qin Shaocong walked straight to the front of the courtroom.

"Director Sheng, I recall that the defendant’s tasks were primarily arranged by you, correct?"

"Yes, it’s the rule. Subordinates must obey their superiors, and as the head of the emergency department, I need to understand the condition of the patients before assigning them to the doctors present."

"Then, did the defendant strictly follow this standard in her execution?"

"No!"

Director Sheng answered decisively.

At the defense’s table, Zhang Wei, who had been speaking with Jessica, was also interrupted. He turned his head to look at the witness stand.

"There’s a problem, there must be a problem!"

Qin Shaocong suddenly pressed with more questions, and by asking in such a way, he must have had a purpose.

"Please tell us, Director Sheng, why your answer was ’no’. Could it be that the defendant did not comply with the standards?"

"Yes, among the doctors we collaborated with in our department, Dr. Jessica is one who doesn’t like to follow orders."

Speaking of which, Director Sheng exemplified, "I remember once, the emergency department received a female patient with severe abdominal pain, accompanied by a male partner!"

"I took her through a series of examinations and finally found that it was a corpus luteum rupture, which required surgery. However, the man refused to sign the consent form and disappeared."

"My opinion was that surgery was necessary, even if the family members objected. Saving a life is what matters. But the defendant was different; she even ignored the patient’s pain and cursed the patient on the spot."

Zhang Wei immediately turned his head, looking at the people beside him.

"That day I was under a lot of stress, and seeing the female patient’s behavior, I lost control a bit..."

Dr. Jessica, bashful, lowered her head and blushed as she explained.

"Why did you curse that female patient?"

"She actually..."

Jessica whispered into Zhang Wei’s ear as she explained.

Hearing the explanation, Zhang Wei’s face instantly became incredibly animated.

The questioning in the courtroom continued.

"Another time, the defendant took matters into her own hands and treated a patient without my knowledge!"

"Oh, what kind of patient was it?"

"A murderer, who after he had butchered a family of three, even attacked field officers, resulting in multiple injuries, and finally he himself was injured and brought to the emergency department."

"Then what did the defendant do?"

"She did not seek my approval but instead circumvented the field officers’ surveillance, and without confirming if the person could be deemed non-dangerous, she went ahead and operated on this patient!"

"Oh, so that’s the case, really a doctor with a heart of compassion~" Qin Shaocong knowingly asked a leading question and gave Director Sheng a knowing look.

"May I ask Director Sheng, to your knowledge, the family of three that the patient killed were?"

"His ex-wife and her new husband, and also..."

At this point, Director Sheng lowered his head, falling somewhat silent.

"And what?"

"They also had a 2-year-old child, still in swaddling clothes!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire courtroom erupted.

A deranged criminal who did not even spare a 2-year-old child.

"Scum!"

"Degenerate!"

"Demon!"

"Simply inhuman!"

One after another, voices rose from the spectator seats.

Even the jury looked at Dr. Jessica with intense hostility.

Clearly, many people present could not accept the treatment of a murderer.

"Thank you, Director Sheng, for your response. I believe we all now understand that the defendant cured a person of unspeakable evil!"

Qin Shaocong concluded his questioning and walked back to the prosecutor’s bench, visibly pleased with himself.

Just then, Zhang Wei also stood up.

"Judge Ni, the defense also has additional questions!"

As Zhang Wei made his request, he looked towards the bench.

Ni Qiuping, with one hand on her forehead, waved her hand, too tired to speak.

You want to ask, then just ask. What else can I do?

Zhang Wei approached the witness stand.

"Director Sheng, I find that your testimony is still biased, and much of it is highly provocative. Could it be that my client did not agree to have dinner alone with you, which has caused you to hold a grudge against her?"

Zhang Wei emphasized the word "alone" particularly strongly, arousing suspicion in many people.

This Director Sheng looks rather old but seems to have a roving eye.

However, because of Qin Shaocong’s previous statements, this suspicion is somewhat diminished.

Director Sheng hurriedly shook his head, denying it, "What I said are all facts!"

"But the facts you’re stating are only half of the content!"

Zhang Wei stressed again, "Let’s start with the woman with the ruptured corpus luteum. Do you know why my client scolded her?"

"Why?"

"Because the man who came with her was not her husband; in fact, her husband was away on a business trip!"

As these words were spoken, the courtroom once again buzzed with commotion.

An absent husband on a business trip, a wife taken to the hospital by another man.

A ruptured corpus luteum?

What could possibly cause a woman’s corpus luteum to rupture?

Or could it be that the man and woman were so recklessly involved, to cause such a stir?

Those with experience suddenly looked at the matter differently.

On the other hand, those unfamiliar with the matter were still puzzled, not understanding what Zhang Wei was implying.

"I only scolded her after learning that the man was not the woman’s husband, and that she was hesitant to inform her own husband about the surgery," he said.

"But the patient was still in abdominal pain, she was so pitiful..."

"A woman whose husband is away on business, yet flirts with other men at home and attempts to hide this affair, is this really pitiful?"

Many people on the jury and in the audience shook their heads.

"It’s said that the woman’s husband still doesn’t know about this. After all, there are many possible causes for a ruptured corpus luteum, and you have not informed the husband of the full story. He’s still in the dark!"

In the courtroom, many people felt sympathy for the woman’s husband and also mourned silently.

Cuckolded!

Too much cuckoldry!

Hopefully, you can recognize the signs with your wife sooner rather than later by watching this trial!

"Then there’s the second issue you mentioned."

Zhang Wei held up two fingers: "I must admit, my client is a smart person; her subjective consciousness may be strong and she has her own set of principles. She might be different from those under your command who only know to follow orders!"

Clearly, this was a tactful way of saying it, while also subtly mocking Director Sheng and his subordinates as a group who could only obey orders.

"Director Sheng, are you familiar with medical ethics?"

"What are you saying, who lacks medical ethics?"

When Zhang Wei asked this, he was obviously mocking himself, and his tone immediately became more emphatic.

"Director Sheng, I believe that doctors do not have the right to decide whose life is more precious and whose is less, right? Even if it’s a mass murderer or a most wicked criminal, you must treat them. That is medical ethics. How come when it gets to you, the case seems distorted?"

"Director Sheng, if a patient appears before you and will die without surgery, would you save him?"

"Of course, I would!"

"What if this patient is a most-wanted felon by the serious crimes unit with dozens of people’s blood on his hands?"

"That..."

Director Sheng suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

"What’s the matter, Director Sheng? Do you feel a patient’s identity should affect whether you save them or not?"

As Zhang Wei spoke, his gaze turned icy.

Sweat beaded on Director Sheng’s forehead. He was, of course, well aware of medical ethics.

"No, not at all, I would save him!" he quickly replied.

"There you have it. If Director Sheng would save a person unhesitatingly, then isn’t my client, who is also saving lives, right to do so?"

Zhang Wei spread his hands: "Though I know that many of you might not like the way my client saves lives, the professional ethics of a doctor prevent them from standing by idly in the face of death!"

"My client was merely fulfilling the duties of a doctor; she saved lives simply because she has medical ethics, nothing more!"

With that, Zhang Wei glanced at the jury.

Half!

Half of them had understood his argument, but the other half still harbored hostility toward Jessica.

This outcome, although much better than before, made winning the case seem very difficult.

"Judge Ni, I have finished my cross-examination!"

Yet having gained some advantage, Zhang Wei could only hastily conclude his cross-examination.

On the bench, Ni Qiuping glanced at the time and immediately hammered to announce.

"The court declares a recess for today. The next session is provisionally scheduled for Friday. Should there be any special circumstances, we will notify everyone in due course,"

Ni Qiuping was exhausted and felt she needed a break. She quickly exited the courtroom after making the announcement.

The dissolution of the court began.

Qin Shaocong, accompanied by Long Teng’s people, also left.

However, before leaving, he gave Zhang Wei a meaningful look filled with challenge and warning.

Kid, this isn’t over yet!

That was the gist of it.

Zhang Wei perceived Qin Shaocong’s challenge but didn’t seem too concerned.

What preoccupied him now, was what he had to do next.

This was going to be a tough fight!