Chapter 25: Acting Bravely for a Just Cause

Lawyer: Starting with Legal Revenge Against Infidelity!

Protecting the police?

What did he mean, the one-point-six-meter-tall, skin-and-bones Wang Qiang was protecting the police at the scene?

As Xu De''s words settled,

"Wait, defense counsel."

It was a rare occurrence.

From the bench, Zhang Bingxin suddenly spoke up to interrupt Xu De.

In principle, neither side was allowed to interrupt during the presentation of statements, but he chose to do it anyway.

Zhang Bingxin just felt like he was getting old and his ears were failing him.

He stared blankly at Xu De, a slight hesitation in his voice as he sought confirmation:

"Are you saying... the actions taken by the defendant at the time of the incident... were to protect others? Not his daughter, but the police?"

At the defense bench, Xu De paused his presentation. He looked at Zhang Bingxin and spoke without any hesitation:

"Yes and no. I haven''t finished speaking yet, but generally speaking, yes."

"We believe that the actions of the defendant, Wang Qiang, constitute ''acting bravely for a just cause'' and absolutely do not constitute the ''Crime of Intentional Homicide'' alleged in the prosecution''s indictment!"

Zhang Bingxin pressed further:

"So, you believe the defendant was acting bravely for a just cause by protecting seven police officers, one of whom was armed?"

Xu De calmly replied,

"Yes, presiding judge."

Zhang Bingxin: ?

For a moment, Zhang Bingxin was stunned.

Not only him, but the other two judges on the bench, Liu Jianguo and Sun Dong, also froze.

The same was true at the prosecution bench. The prosecutors exchanged long glances, while Chen Wei furrowed his brow, unsure of what trick Xu De was playing.

After a long pause, Zhang Bingxin looked at Xu De. With a slightly furrowed brow and a visibly more serious attitude, he said,

"Defense counsel, please continue."

"Understood."

Xu De nodded, paused briefly, and then continued along his previous train of thought:

"Respected presiding judge and members of the jury."

"According to the records, the defendant, Wang Qiang, went to Lijia Village on October 2nd, an event that resulted in the death of Li Erniu."

"But this incident cannot be viewed solely between Wang Qiang and Li Erniu!"

"Prosecution, may I ask who else was present at the scene during the incident besides the deceased and the defendant!?"

The moment his words fell, a crisp strike echoed.

Bang!

Zhang Bingxin picked up his gavel and gently rapped it on the desk.

"We are now entering the investigative phase. Prosecution, please answer the question."

At the prosecution bench.

"What... what the hell is up with this lawyer?" Prosecutor Wang Wei furrowed his brow, turning sideways to glance at Hu Guang, unsure of what the opposition was plotting.

Acting bravely for a just cause?

Forget about the reporters and bystanders in the gallery being stunned; even the folks from the Intermediate Prosecutor''s Office barely had time to process it!

He had lived for over forty years, and this was the first time he had ever heard that flushing red in the face, striking the first blow, and subsequently killing someone could be considered acting bravely for a just cause!

Did this lawyer even know what he was saying?!

"Let''s wait and see,"

Prosecutor Hu Guang replied with a frown. He then looked at Xu De and responded loudly:

"They can generally be divided into six categories:"

"The police, the victim of the human trafficking case, the defendant, the deceased, the family of the deceased, and the villagers of Lijia Village."

Hearing this, Xu De nodded from the defense bench and continued:

"Exactly, a total of six groups. Let''s put this aside for a moment."

"Then, let me ask the opposing counsel again: under what circumstances does an act constitute the ''Crime of Intentional Homicide'' as stated in the indictment?"

Such concepts might be difficult for ordinary people to clearly articulate.

But not a single person present was a pushover!

Hu Guang answered:

"According to the explicit provisions of Article 14 of the Criminal Law Code, the original text states: An intentional crime occurs when a person clearly knows that their actions will cause harmful consequences to society, yet hopes for or allows such consequences to happen, thereby constituting a crime!"

"This includes direct intent, indirect intent, and willful negligence."

Saying this, Hu Guang raised the document in his hand and pointed at the text.

"Regarding this case, the defendant, Wang Qiang, clearly knew that his proactive actions would cause the conflict between the two parties to erupt and result in casualties, yet he did not stop."

"This subsequently caused the death of the victim, Li Erniu."

"Therefore, the defendant, Wang Qiang, fits the criteria for Article 14: indirect intentional homicide!"

Intentional homicide had subcategories. It wasn''t just about hating someone and stabbing them with a knife.

For example: I know this might kill someone, but I don''t care. If they die, they die. I neither hope for it nor prevent it, and I accept the outcome if it happens. This also counted as intentional homicide.

Wang Qiang''s actions could be considered either direct or indirect. Based on the confessions and evidence, Hu Guang believed he fell into the latter category.

"Defense, do you have any further opinions to express?"

Hu Guang rested his folded hands on the desk, leaning his upper body forward and staring at Xu De with a frown.

Hearing this, Xu De knew when to stop. He took a deep breath and declared:

"Prosecution, what you just stated..."

"Is completely inconsistent with the facts!"

Inconsistent with the facts?

This was no joke. To a prosecutor, this practically bordered on a personal attack!

A look of anger had just surfaced on Hu Guang''s face, yet the opposition gave him no chance to speak.

Xu De suddenly looked out at everyone present and said in a clear, resonant voice:

"According to the prosecution, the defendant, Wang Qiang, became emotionally agitated due to the trafficking dispute, which generated hostility, leading him to strike the first blow and cause the fatality."

"But..."

"According to the evidence, the person who attacked first was clearly the deceased, Li Erniu!"

As these words fell, the crowd froze slightly. The next second, astonishment appeared on their faces, and a murmur of commotion rippled through the gallery once more.

"That doesn''t sound right. Although I sympathize with the defendant... based on the information provided by the police, didn''t the victim just get into the car and tug at the defendant''s family member?"

"There was no extreme behavior, no verbal provocation..."

"No... I really don''t understand this lawyer."

"..."

In the audience, someone raised a hand to rub their head, staring at Xu De and pondering for a long time without grasping what he meant.

Never mind the bystanders.

Even Hu Guang, Wang Wei, and the others in direct confrontation furrowed their brows, entirely unsure of what he was plotting.

''Judging from his logical thinking, this lawyer is definitely not some clueless greenhorn. If that''s the case...''

''What exactly does he mean by these words? What is his goal in saying all this!?''

Hu Guang stared at Xu De, as if trying to see right through into his mind.

Presiding judge Zhang Bingxin also froze for a long moment before hesitantly speaking:

"Defense counsel, please clarify your previous statement."

Xu De nodded, a faint smile finally surfacing on his face.

Immediately after, across the entirety of Courtroom One, ringing in the ears of over four hundred people, a rapid succession of words poured forth.

"Let me ask the opposing counsel: before the fatality occurred, regarding the rest of the personnel present at the scene—that is, the six groups of people I asked about earlier."

"The police, the trafficking victim, the victim''s family, the villagers of Lijia Village..."

"What was the relationship dynamic among these four groups?"

Xu De didn''t wait for anyone else to answer; he blurted it out himself.

"It was a standoff!"

"It was an illegal and criminal act where over forty people armed with weapons, including the two family members currently in this trial, forcibly surrounded and severely threatened the personal safety of seven police officers and the trafficking victim!"

"And our defendant."

"Under such circumstances, in order to protect the people''s police, our defendant was the first to stand before the crowd and fight back against all the lawbreakers!!!"

Inside Courtroom One, the largest courtroom in Greenwood City, it was deadly silent.

Over four hundred people stared slack-jawed at the impassioned lawyer.

"In summary, according to Article 2 of the Greenwood City Regulations on the Reward and Protection of Personnel Acting Bravely for a Just Cause..."

Xu De declared,

"Our defendant was, in fact, acting bravely for a just cause!"

Prosecutor Hu Guang: ?

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin: ?

The gallery audience: ?

As his voice fell, the entire courtroom descended into silence.