Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 585 - 578: Preliminary Review, Questions that Refresh One’s World View

Chapter 585: Chapter 578: Preliminary Review, Questions that Refresh One’s World View

Monday evening.

In an apartment downtown.

Chen Xiao was on the phone with his "Boss," the Dragon Lord.

"What, the Investigations Department has provided Guan Yuhong with witness protection? He is going to stay at the department’s safe house until the result of the retrial is out, instead of in prison?"

"Exactly, that’s the news I just received. It seems that Zhang Wei anticipated our worst possible actions!"

On the other end of the line, the Dragon Lord was also somewhat surprised.

In his plan, should the case develop beyond expectations, or if the trial dredged up too much, it would be necessary for him to intervene.

And how to intervene?

Naturally, it would involve arranging for Qing Jiao to help Guan Yuhong "clean up and sleep," a true permanent solution.

But now, Zhang Wei seemed to have anticipated the Dragon Lord’s plan and had even convinced Zhu Yuansi to have the Investigations Department protect Guan Yuhong.

"Dragon Lord, does this mean that we can’t touch Guan Yuhong at all now?"

"Not necessarily. After all, a safe house isn’t truly safe, and since Guan Yuhong is a suspect in the case, he needs to leave it and testify at every hearing. There will always be moments when he has to leave the safe house!"

The Dragon Lord said, his tone bearing a hint of ruthlessness.

If he truly wanted to make a move against Guan Yuhong, there would certainly be a way.

As he had said, Guan Yuhong had to leave the safe house and go to court for the hearings.

At that time, if you’re not in the safe house, wouldn’t that be an opportunity to make a move?

If he really did that, he would be telling everyone that there was a problem with the case.

Moreover, if the Investigations Department deployed heavy security and the assassin still insisted on killing Guan Yuhong, that would be quite telling.

Even if Guan Yuhong were truly assassinated, the humiliated Investigations Department would certainly pursue the matter to the end.

So unless necessary, he did not wish to eliminate Guan Yuhong in full view of everyone.

If there had been no protection before, it might have been disguised as an accident.

But if an assassin could manage an "accident" under the strict surveillance of the Investigations Department, that would indeed be a killer of divine caliber.

"So, we have a most secure method now!"

"Dragon Lord, what method are you referring to!"

Chen Xiao’s expression turned serious as he awaited orders.

"That is to let the prosecution win!"

Chen Xiao had already thought of this method, but the outcome of this case was truly unpredictable.

However, the Dragon Lord made a valid point.

As long as Guan Yuhong couldn’t overturn the verdict, then it was all just talk.

If you are still convicted in this round of hearings, then none of it matters.

The real worry was...

"Dragon Lord, if Guan Yuhong’s lawyer were just anybody, I could guarantee you that we would win this case for sure, but..."

"I know, that’s Zhang Wei, right?"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.

"Dragon Lord, with your means, can’t you handle this Zhang Wei?"

"Hmph, if it were that easy to deal with him, my partners in Dongfang Capital wouldn’t have used tricks to lure him to Longdu!"

The Dragon Lord sneered and held the few "friends" from Dongfang Capital in contempt.

You really think I don’t know that you brought Zhang Wei to Longdu to prevent him from disrupting your parliamentary election plans!

As for these people, the Dragon Lord could only scoff.

If you from Dongfang Capital can’t handle Zhang Wei, why would you think we in Longdu can?

"Anyway, if this case really gets out of control... I will provide resources to help you!"

"Thank you, Dragon Lord, I..."

After instructing, the Dragon Lord did not wait for Chen Xiao’s response and hung up the phone.

"... will give it my all!"

Only then did Chen Xiao’s response come out, but the Dragon Lord on the other end of the phone could no longer hear.

...

Tuesday, the day of the preliminary hearing.

Longdu Courthouse, Criminal Court.

To be honest, Bao Yansu did not expect the retrial to be approved.

And he had not anticipated that Guan Yuhong’s case would actually fall into his hands.

Moreover, just after the Monday retrial petition passed, the preliminary hearing started on Tuesday.

The speed was indeed fast. There was no time to prepare at all.

However, this case dates back 12 years, and I believe the defense has prepared long enough to cover it up for this moment.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Bao!"

With the Court Guard’s loud announcement, Bao Yansu entered the courtroom.

He walked to the bench, looked around, and then calmly took his seat.

At the prosecutor’s table, Zhu Yuansi and his two assistants were ready.

At the defense table, Zhang Wei and Tie Ruyun, too, were prepared.

Also at the defense table was the defendant, Guan Yuhong.

In the rear, at the witness stand, sat Zhao Xiaoxiao, Xia Qianyue, and the other four women.

In the front row of the spectator seats, Guan Yuhong’s son, Guan Ping, was present, along with some others whom Judge Bao did not recognize but had seen in the case summary photos.

They were witnesses.

Witnesses who had appeared in the trial 12 years ago.

Of course, in the middle of the spectator seats, sat Chen Xiao, a direct participant in the case from that time and Guan Yuhong’s defense lawyer.

Even beside Chen Xiao were several new lawyers from Longteng Law Firm.

Perhaps this was their first time attending a retrial, a chance for them to gain some experience.

"Ahem, the court would like to announce the schedule for the trial. In fact, as of yesterday, the Supreme Court also informed me by phone to make more time for this case, with their request being the sooner, the better."

"So, the court has adjusted the schedule accordingly. Today is Tuesday. We will have a pre-trial conference this morning, and then we’ll start the first hearing this afternoon. Is that acceptable to everyone?"

"We have no objection!"

Although it was unexpected to have such tight timing, Zhu Yuansi’s side was well-prepared.

"The defense agrees to this schedule!"

Zhang Wei naturally had no complaints either; the timing was perfect with a pre-trial conference in the morning and the trial in the afternoon.

"Very well, since this is a retrial of a case from 12 years ago, I will ask both parties if they want to maintain their original claims."

Judge Bao then looked toward Zhu Yuansi and Zhang Wei again.

"Our side maintains our original claim, prosecuting Mr. Guan Yuhong for the crime of intentional homicide!"

"Our side maintains our original claim, to defend Mr. Guan Yuhong against the murder charge by arguing for his innocence!"

Seeing that both sides maintained their original claims, Judge Bao nodded in acknowledgment.

"Very well, but I still need to explain to the jury that this trial is a retrial of the murder charges against Guan Yuhong, concerning the killing of Sun Mou and his child 12 years ago. Detailed case information has been compiled by the court into a summary, which will be distributed to those who qualify for the jury after the pre-trial concludes!"

As Judge Bao spoke, he nodded toward the clerk, who also nodded back in response.

"All right, then, please invite the potential jurors to take their seats!"

The Court Guard began to admit people into the jury box, and this time there were over 30 people. Additionally, in the spectator seats, there were reserve potential jurors, with numbers ample enough for selection.

"Prosecution and defense, who would like to go first?"

"Ladies first!"

Upon hearing Zhang Wei’s response, Judge Bao was momentarily taken aback but then looked towards Zhu Yuansi.

Prosecutor Zhu stood up without hesitation, walked to the front of the jury box and, after clearing her throat, spoke with emotion, "Can you imagine, ladies and gentlemen, a child still in swaddling clothes, never having a chance to experience life, losing their life?"

"Objection, inflammatory remarks!"

Zhang Wei stood up abruptly as Zhu Yuansi had just posed her question.

"Judge Bao, Prosecutor Zhu’s question is clearly trying to garner sympathy by using one of the victims of this case, the child. She has even brought the wife of the deceased, Sun Mou, to the courtroom!"

As he spoke, Zhang Wei pointed to a sorrowful woman in the spectator seats, hugging a young girl beside her.

The jury and the other people in the spectator seats looked surprisingly at the woman.

She was Sun Mou’s widow, so the young girl she held, was that Sun Mou’s daughter?

"Judge Bao, I simply asked a question I deemed reasonable, and moreover, the jury has the right to know the truth of what happened at the time,"

Zhu Yuansi countered, not backing down from her stance against Zhang Wei.

"Are you two really going to keep arguing like this? This is only the first question!"

Judge Bao was getting a headache; this was just the first question, and they were already at each other’s throats in the courtroom?

"Judge Bao, I can prove that Prosecutor Zhu’s purpose is to influence the jury!"

Just then, Zhang Wei suddenly raised an eyebrow, then looked at Zhu Yuansi with a sly smile.

"Oh, you can prove it?"

"Yes!"

Zhang Wei pointed again to Sun Mou’s widow in the spectator seats.

"In fact, Mrs. Sun remarried four years ago, and now we should refer to her as Lady Fan!"

Upon this revelation, many in the courtroom looked mildly surprised.

"But how strange it is, why would Prosecutor Zhu invite Lady Fan to court and not Mr. Fan? Is it because she was afraid Mr. Fan’s presence would detract from Lady Fan’s ability to influence the jury?"

As Zhang Wei spoke, Zhu Yuansi’s expression changed slightly, becoming somewhat unnatural.

"Prosecutor Zhu, I ask you, are they really the widow and daughter of the deceased Sun Mou?"

"Yes, Judge Bao, they are the wife and daughter of the victim Sun Mou in this case."

"Then, is what Lawyer Zhang said true?"

"This..."

Zhu Yuansi showed a trace of embarrassment but still nodded.

At this, many people in the courtroom revealed a look of sudden realization.

If a widow came to court with her daughter, she could indeed draw the sympathy of the jury.

But for a remarried woman to bring her daughter to court and play the pity card, the effect would be greatly diminished.

And now, Zhang Wei had also exposed the little trickery Zhu Yuansi harbored.

Having someone pose as a grieving widow to court sympathy, and then not allowing her new husband to accompany her, was this not treating the jury as fools to be deceived?

So, the jury’s look towards the mother and daughter in the witness stand was devoid of any sympathy, only indifference.

You want to play the pity card, cry all you want, we’ll just watch.

"Since Lawyer Zhang has put it this way, the court recognizes the objection as valid, Prosecuter Zhu, please control the extent of your questioning!"

Judge Bao hadn’t expected Zhang Wei to have predicted even this step and could only support the objection.

"My strategy has actually been deciphered!"

Zhu Yuansi had not expected that his plan to use Sun Mou’s widow to elicit pity would be foiled in a one-on-one defense.

"Seriously, did you think I couldn’t guess your move? Haven’t you thought about how many prosecutors I’ve faced? Such superficial tricks won’t work on me."

Zhang Wei sat down with an expressionless face, without the slightest sense of triumph for having neutralized the opponent’s tactic.

After all, this was just the beginning.

Since the first trick was useless, Zhu Yuansi immediately prepared a second trick.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I believe you’ve all heard the saying, ’Misfortune should not extend to one’s family’, right?"

At this, everyone on the jury subconsciously nodded.

"Very well, those who support this view, please raise your hands!"

Almost everyone raised their hands.

"Now, does anyone here agree with the concept of ’fighting fire with fire’?"

As she posed this question, she deliberately glanced at Guan Yuhong.

Obviously, in the eyes of the Senior Prosecutor, Guan Yuhong must have had some friction with Sun Mou, which is why he chose such a method to retaliate against Sun Mou.

Many in the jury looked at each other, the vast majority lowered their hands, but a few still raised them.

"Thank you for your honesty!"

Zhu Yuansi nodded at those who raised their hands, then swiftly turned around.

"Judge Bao, we request the removal of jurors No. 1, No. 5, No. 17, and No. 21!"

Judge Bao took out a pen to make a note, while gesturing for the four named jurors to leave.

"Oh, you think my client believes in ’fighting fire with fire’, huh?"

Zhang Wei muttered, while seeing through Zhu Yuansi’s objective with just a glance.

After having four members of the jury screened out, Zhu Yuansi asked some more conventional prosecution questions, accepted a few jurors, and rejected even more.

"Lawyer Zhang, it’s your turn!"

Once he finished questioning, Zhu Yuansi went straight back to the prosecution’s bench.

She was eager to see what kind of tactics this young attorney from Dongfang Capital would play during voir dire.

And Dongfang Capital’s team, including Tie Ruyun, Xia Qianyue, Zhao Xiaoxiao, Mo Yuzhu, and Jessica, all adjusted their sitting postures.

It seemed as if they had guessed what was going to happen next, adjusting their postures to prevent any excessive emotional reaction that might cause embarrassment.

"Ahem, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, hello."

In the spotlight of the courtroom, Zhang Wei walked up with a smile, standing before the array of jurors.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to ask, do you believe in ’love at first sight’?"

No sooner had he spoken than the courtroom erupted into commotion.

Countless people gaped, some even froze in place.

Judge Bao, Prosecutor Zhu, even Guan Yuhong at the defense table, and Chen Xiao sitting in the middle of the witness seat, were all stunned.

What is this?

Love at first sight?

Are you sure you are standing in a courtroom and not at a matchmaking event?

Indeed, everyone was dumbfounded.

They could never have imagined that a defense attorney would ask such an off-the-wall question in court.

Thanks to this question, many were caught awkwardly off guard, with glassy eyes and uncomfortable sitting postures.

"Lawyer Tie, what on earth does this question mean?"

Guan Yuhong was perplexed and directly asked Tie Ruyun.

"Zhang Wei’s questioning has its own purpose!"

Tie Ruyun kept a straight face while giving a profound response.

But in reality, he was mentally ranting like crazy, thinking, "Zhang Wei, if I weren’t so familiar with you, I’d spray you right now."

This is a courtroom, not a pedestrian street; it’s not the place for you to randomly chat up girls. What kind of stupid question is that?

Love at first sight my foot!

"Ladies and gentlemen, what’s wrong? Is this question too hard to answer? Why have you all frozen up?"

In the courtroom, Zhang Wei seemed oblivious to the oddity of his question as he looked at the jury again.

The jurors all gave each other bewildered looks, unsure of how to react.

Fortunately, Zhang Wei could call on them directly.

"Sir, do you believe in love at first sight?"

"I don’t believe in it!" The man shook his head.

"Oh, may I ask why? Between you and your wife..."

Zhang Wei said, pointing at the man’s left ring finger, where a wedding ring sat.

"To be honest, my wife and I met through matchmaking. In fact, we got married simply because we both thought the other was decent enough to settle down with."

Hearing the man’s answer, Zhang nodded in satisfaction.

"Judge Bao, the defense accepts this juror!"

You accept him?

For what reason do you accept him? To settle for a life together with his wife just like that? Isn’t that attitude a bit too casual?

Hearing Zhang Wei’s words, Judge Bao opened his mouth but still suppressed the urge to retort.

Next to him, Zhu Yuansi held his forehead, with an "I can’t even bother to look" expression.

"Madam, do you believe in love at first sight?"

"I believe it, my husband said he fell for me at first sight!"

"Oh, thank you for your answer."

Zhang Wei looked at the woman in front of him, who seemed somewhat silly with infatuation, and scoffed before turning away.

"Judge Bao, the defense requests to dismiss this juror."

Dismissed again? What have you got against love at first sight?

Judge Bao opened his mouth once more, but again suppressed the urge to comment and made a note in his notebook.

The woman left her seat.

"Handsome, do you believe in love at first sight?"

"I’d like to say I do, but my girlfriend just broke up with me, so..."

"Oh, is that so? I’m sorry to hear that. Then let me ask you another question, do you believe in ’familiarity breeds fondness’?"

As soon as these words came out, many in the jury exchanged glances once again.

At the judge’s bench, Judge Bao froze once more.

Familiarity breeds fondness?

Is this ’familiarity breeds fondness’ of yours even proper?

"Familiarity breeds fondness?"

In the gallery, countless people muttered the phrase and were stunned into silence.

"Oh my, familiarity breeds fondness!"

Among friends, Mo Yuzhu was the first to get the joke and her cheeks flushed.

"You hopeless girl, go die. You can even make a move on such a rubbish occasion; this is a courtroom, for goodness’ sake. If you want to flirt, at least look at the context first?"

Zhao Xiaoxiao was instantly speechless, poking the person next to her with a finger, her face full of speechlessness.

However, shortly afterward, the friends also turned their gaze to Zhang Wei.

Dude, have you been out of the courtroom too long? These questions are really bizarre, and the audacity just keeps increasing.

They all felt that Zhang Wei’s questions today weren’t aimed at screening jurors but rather at...

Refresh the traditional views of Longdu prosecutors.

And it seemed, he had successfully achieved his goal.

At that moment, whether it was Judge Bao or Prosecutor Zhu, their traditional views seemed to have been refreshed by Zhang Wei’s questioning.

They really couldn’t imagine anyone asking such bizarre questions during jury selection.

Speaking of which, don’t the prosecutors and judges of Dongfang Capital endure such absurd questioning every time they take on a case with Zhang Wei?

In that case, we can only say to our colleagues from Dongfang Capital, you have our sympathy...