Chapter 43: Thirty-Second Window |
Diamond cut diamond!
Suddenly, an invisible pressure radiated outward from both sides, enveloping all of Courtroom One. Everyone instinctively held their breath, their eyes wide as they stared at the trial area, desperate not to miss a single detail.
''This guy... he''s too bold!''
In the public gallery, reporter Zhang Xia swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest.
She watched the scene unfolding on the stage.
The two sides were currently at each other''s throats, a complete departure from the atmosphere of the first trial.
If the last session had been a debate of reason and tricky angles, offering a surgically precise dissection of the case, then this time...
it was a pure, head-on collision!
"Forcing his personal opinion..."
This behavior, which could be considered challenging the judge''s bottom line, was absolutely laden with the smell of gunpowder.
As for why Xu De dared to do this...
Because this was basically the final trial!
Right now.
In the trial area.
At the defense table, Xu De wore an unusually solemn expression. He ignored Wang Wei''s displeasure and stared straight at the presiding judge, Zhang Bingxin.
The prosecution had amended the indictment, and their evidence was sufficient. The judge would not grant another recess or a chance for a third trial.
To win under these circumstances... you had to take a tough stance. Taking even half a step back would be completely irresponsible to the client!
"Presiding Judge, the prosecution is making presumptions about the defendant based on their own subjective attitude!"
"The so-called two actions are actually a single, coherent movement. The defendant never exceeded the scope of legitimate self-defense from beginning to end, nor did he engage in excessive pursuit!"
Xu De spoke up again, emphasizing his position.
At the prosecution table.
Wang Wei felt he could barely suppress the anger flaring in his chest.
Presumptions? Was the opposing counsel taking his words out of context before he even finished speaking not considered a presumption!?
"Presiding Judge, the defense attorney is disrupting order and ignoring court rules. I request that he be issued a warning!" Wang Wei also looked toward the judge.
On the judge''s bench.
The three judges remained motionless, their expressions meticulous.
Until Zhang Bingxin raised the gavel on the bench.
"砰!"
"Defense, it is not yet your turn to speak. Please observe courtroom order!"
"This is your first warning. If you violate the rules again, the court has the right to sanction you!"
The order of speaking in a court of law was crucial. If the impact was severe enough, the judge could even expel the lawyer from the trial.
Xu De had no objections to this warning. On the contrary, he had already achieved his goal—
To negate the opposing side''s statement, thereby undermining the credibility of the second half of Wang Wei''s argument!
Zhang Bingxin said:
"Prosecution, please continue your statement."
Wang Wei heard this.
He took a deep breath, extinguishing the fiery rage burning in his chest. He looked back at the document in his hand and continued:
"The aforementioned is Wang Qiang''s first suspected ''active'' behavior."
"And next, the defendant, Wang Qiang, fully satisfies the criteria for the Crime of Intentional Harm under Article 234 of the Criminal Law!"
As he spoke.
Wang Wei paused, reintroducing the second half of the sentence that Xu De had interrupted.
"After the defendant, Wang Qiang, pushed the victim out of the vehicle."
"The victim, Li Erniu, fell to the ground, and only then did he snatch the weapon, a sickle, from the hands of the Lijia Village villager, Li Chunhua."
"Immediately after, Wang Qiang engaged in a struggle with him, ultimately resulting in the death of the victim, Li Erniu."
His words fell.
He paused, and suddenly changed his tone, pulling out the thorn hidden within.
"Please note!"
"As this series of events occurred, from Li Erniu falling to the ground to the snatching of the sickle, there was a blank period of nearly half a minute!"
"During this Thirty-Second Window,"
"there was no one behind Wang Qiang, no one blocking his way. He could have easily gotten into the car to take shelter, leaving the scene to the police to control, thereby escaping the immediate danger."
"There were several police officers stationed inside the police car. He only needed to take one step back to be safe and sound."
As he spoke.
Wang Wei''s eyes grew heavy, his expression grim, exuding an unquestionable authority as he declared:
"But he chose not to do so, and instead chose to step forward and grapple with Li Erniu."
"Ultimately, causing the death of the victim, Li Erniu!"
"Combined with the suspected ''intentional'' pushing inside the police car, we believe..."
"The defendant, Wang Qiang, was emotionally agitated and held a subjectively ''intentional'' attitude. His actions constitute the Crime of Intentional Harm under Article 234 of the Criminal Law!"
"At the same time, the opposing party''s actions exceeded the scope of legitimate self-defense."
"The circumstances fully align with ''defense excess'' under Article 20 of the Criminal Law!"
As these words landed...
The courtroom instantly erupted into an uproar.
The theory was solid, the points of debate were sharp, it was well-founded, and the logic was incredibly rigorous.
"The prosecution came prepared this time..."
"Indeed, based on what was just said, they can practically nail the charges down."
"A blank period of thirty seconds... an ordinary person could run over two hundred meters, Usain Bolt could run three hundred meters, and in a car, you could travel nearly seven hundred meters..."
"But the defendant continued to struggle with him... from what angle can this be refuted?"
In the public gallery.
The crowd truly could not hold back. They began whispering amongst themselves, their brows furrowed as they muttered.
At the defendant''s seat.
On that cold chair, Wang Qiang kept his head down, his hands tightly clenched. His withered hands were squeezed white, and his breathing gradually grew anxious.
Right now.
Listening to the discussions from the gallery behind him, Wang Qiang''s senses suddenly underwent an earth-shattering shift. The surrounding judge''s bench, prosecution table, and defense table began to expand infinitely. Hu Guang, Zhang Bingxin, and Xu De grew taller, like towering giants!
While he became a tiny ant, insignificant as a grain of sand, trapped in the center, awaiting the final judgment.
The oppressive feeling and despair turned into physically freezing water, drowning him and making him feel impossibly suffocated!
Until...
"Objection!"
From the defense table.
In almost just a few short seconds, Xu De immediately organized his wording. His expression was stern, yet his eyes concealed a rational calmness.
On the judge''s bench.
Zhang Bingxin had not yet finished digesting Wang Wei''s words. Hearing the commotion, he turned to look at Xu De, nodded, and said:
"The defense may state their objection."
Xu De nodded.
He took a deep breath and slowly stood up.
Rebutting on the spot was extremely difficult. Even an ordinary corporate interview was hard to handle, let alone this kind of sudden, high-intensity questioning in a courtroom, which demanded even more expression and logic in a short amount of time!
But to reiterate.
He was determined to fight this not-guilty defense to the very end!
"Presiding Judge, Judges."
"The prosecution''s claim of ''intentional harm'' is completely unfounded in reality, lacks basis, and cannot hold water!"
"First, the defendant Wang Qiang''s actions inside the police car had no subjective intent and were not driven by emotion, but were a pure act of legitimate self-defense made while ''acting bravely for a just cause''. It constitutes a continuous, single act of defense!"
"Secondly, outside the vehicle..."
Xu De paused, and immediately after, a rapid succession of words echoed through the courtroom.
"According to the third paragraph of Article 20 of the Criminal Law, besides ''General Self-Defense'' and ''defense excess'', there exists a third provision: ''Special Self-Defense''!"
"Which is the Right to Unlimited Self-Defense!"
"The original text explicitly states: ''When taking defensive action against ongoing physical assault, murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, and other violent crimes that seriously endanger personal safety, causing injury or death to the unlawful infringer...''"
"''It does not constitute defense excess, and no criminal responsibility shall be borne!''"
"During the time of the incident,"
"after Li Erniu snatched the sickle, the level of his infringement had escalated. It went from an infringement against Wang Mei to a violent, life-threatening crime directed at Wang Qiang. This perfectly aligns with the provisions of the third paragraph of the law!"
"That is to say, during this period, the defendant Wang Qiang..."
Xu De spoke, his expression icy. He forcefully rapped the knuckle of his right index finger against the table, producing a sharp knocking sound.
"Possessed the Right to Unlimited Self-Defense!"
"Therefore, even if the deceased Li Erniu died as a result of his defense, the defendant remains..."
"Not guilty!!!"
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