Chapter 57: Public Opinion |
"Regarding this case, cadres from the Greenwood City Political and Legal Affairs Committee praised the defense, and the judiciary has declared it an unrepeatable case!"
"From the initial accusation of intentional homicide to a charge of intentional injury during the second trial, this lawyer pulled off three major turnarounds. Relying purely on his own abilities, he secured an acquittal, and the defendant, Wang Qiang, was released in court!"
"Industry professionals claim that nationwide, no more than three such cases occur each year!"
"After the trial concluded, reporters from major newspapers scrambled to interview the defense attorney. During this time, they asked a highly tricky question: why did he choose to take on Wang Qiang''s case when it seemed completely impossible to win?"
"And his response leaves one deep in thought!"
On the television screen.
The host of Greenwood News paused slightly. Then, his clear articulation echoed through the speakers, reaching ears in every corner of Greenwood City.
"He only said..."
"Professional ethics!"
At that moment.
Everyone following the case seemed to have been collectively paused. They froze in front of their television screens, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
After a long while...
Snapping out of their daze, people widened their eyes, faces filled with utter astonishment.
"He won? Wait, the defendant won that case?!"
"An acquittal... Did I hear that wrong, or did they write the news script wrong? How could a damned case like that end in an acquittal?!"
"Didn''t the defendant kill someone? I mean, I sympathize with him, but shouldn''t he get at least some jail time for murder, no matter how you spin it? What do they mean by an acquittal?!"
"The Political and Legal Affairs Committee gave a highly positive review... What exactly did that defense attorney do? How did he catch the committee''s attention..."
"..."
Cries of shock erupted from every corner.
Most news watchers only stuck to two programs: Yanjing News and the local news.
The local news had broadcasted the Lijia Village case long ago, so a vast number of people were aware of it.
However, most had been following it with a pessimistic attitude.
After all, if someone was killed, there was a ninety-nine percent probability of a conviction, not to mention that the public prosecutors were Hu Guang and Wang Wei. It was an impossible situation to overcome.
But...
What did they mean an unknown lawyer completely ran over Hu Guang and Wang Wei?
And what did they mean by an unrepeatable case?!
"Did those two hosts have too much to drink? Is the Greenwood City TV station that lax, letting people broadcast while drunk?"
People who had been buried in their dinners stared blankly at the TV, forgetting to chew the food in their mouths.
Feeling suspicious, they reached out and switched to another local news channel.
But as the screen changed, two new hosts appeared, except...
"Why is the Lijia Village case considered an unrepeatable case?"
"For today''s program, we have invited Professor Wu from the Law Department of Greenwood University to analyze this successful not-guilty defense for us..."
"..."
Watching another live news broadcast, the citizens in front of their screens fell into deep thought.
They hadn''t misheard.
It really was an acquittal.
Unlike the viewers who were merely shocked in front of their televisions, the internet was already boiling over this case!
On various newly emerging social media platforms in 2002, everyone following the case rushed to comment after seeing the official news and the court notice. The number of comments skyrocketed at an incredible speed!
[Spinach-Loving Cat: I''m completely dumbfounded. Just yesterday I was thinking that if all else fails, we could crowdfund a good lawyer for Wang Qiang''s second trial. How was an acquittal suddenly announced today?!]
[Flying High and Straight: Is fake news really this rampant nowadays?]
[Second-Hand Wife Buyer: Am I dreaming? Since when do Dongguo lawyers have any say in a criminal trial?!]
[Big Boss: Wasn''t this case rejected by everyone, leaving it with no choice but legal aid?]
[I Am Li Black: Wait, what do you mean a lawyer capable of going toe-to-toe with the public prosecutors just popped out of a pile of trash legal aid lawyers? Is this even a legal aid lawyer?!]
[Tickle Your Soles: Secretary, you have three minutes. I want this defense attorney''s complete profile!]
[...]
The year 2002 was an era of wild internet expansion, where major software platforms aggressively carved out territory and fought for traffic.
Normally, trending searches were filled with celebrity gossip or entertainment news. But today...
On several platforms, a criminal trial had simultaneously forced its way into the trending topics!
This changed everything.
Bored netizens who were on the verge of falling asleep late at night took one look and instantly jolted awake, leaning toward their monitors in shock.
The continuous clacking of keyboards soon followed as they heatedly debated in the comments. The topic''s popularity rose at a visible pace.
It couldn''t be helped.
No matter how one looked at it, this case shattered people''s worldviews. Everyone was completely stunned by that lawyer''s performance.
And the most popular comment was from an utterly baffled netizen.
[I Am Not A Muggle: Can someone explain this to me... What does it mean that the defense attorney had to fight nine people alone in a murder trial?!]
[I Am Not A Muggle: And what does it mean that he actually won?! And won a total victory?!]
[I Am Not A Muggle: And what the hell does it mean that he''s a legal aid lawyer?! Do all legal aid lawyers in Greenwood City have this level of skill?!]
...
Inside Jinmao Law Firm.
The office was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Only the host''s voice from the screen echoed softly.
"Finally, let us express our gratitude to these lawyers who silently uphold their professional ethics."
"Next, we bring you another piece of news. Recently..."
The host''s flat voice echoed in their ears.
In the office.
Three figures stood frozen in deathly silence. They looked like stone statues, not making a single movement.
Until...
Gulp.
Staring straight at the screen, Chief Jin''s throat bobbed. He snapped out of his daze, and a look of sheer terror surfaced in his eyes.
He whipped his head around to look at Chief Zhang of the Criminal Department next to him.
The other man was completely stunned, his face a mask of disbelief.
"An... An acquittal?!"
Chief Zhang clutched his head as if he had just heard some fantastical myth. He muttered to himself, doubting reality altogether.
He was a veteran in the legal community.
Naturally, he knew exactly how difficult the Lijia Village case was. And it was precisely because he understood it so clearly...
...that he had previously guessed Xu De''s victory would result in Wang Qiang getting sentenced to five years, or perhaps three. Even with a more thorough victory, it would have been a suspended sentence at best.
This wasn''t because his imagination was conservative or because he looked down on others.
It was purely because of the judicial environment; whether a sentence was lenient or harsh depended entirely on the judge''s personal attitude.
But he truly hadn''t expected...
"How could it be an acquittal?!"
Clutching his head, Chief Zhang racked his brains but still couldn''t figure out what had actually happened.
Let alone anything else.
Regarding the letter of forgiveness and the Settlement Agreement mentioned on the news, he had absolutely no idea how Xu De had managed to get Li Youcai and Liu Cui to sign them!
"Wait..."
Chief Zhang and Chief Jin suddenly snapped to their senses. Composing their thoughts, their expressions turned ugly.
They were genuinely starting to feel furious now.
With a lawyer like Xu De, if they could have just kept him in the firm, even if his future performance only maintained half of this level, they could have built a good relationship with him. The resources slipping through his fingers would have been enough to line their pockets for years. Yet, he was driven away by Sun Hao...
Was it just Xu De who was driven away?
It was their future!!!
If it felt like this for them, then for Director Han, the owner of the law firm...
The two froze and instinctively turned their heads to look at Director Han.
At this moment, Director Han...
Crack!
A crisp sound echoed from his hand. It was the sound of a pen being snapped in half by sheer force.
Director Han''s face was grim to the extreme. The rage in his eyes seemed to solidify into something physical, his chest heaved violently, and he ground his teeth as if trying to crush them to dust.
"Director..." Chief Jin''s throat bobbed.
"Where... is Sun Hao?"
Director Han spoke in a low, heavy voice.
"He... he took sick leave," Chief Jin stammered.
"Until when?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Tomorrow morning, is it...
Bloodshot veins surfaced in Director Han''s eyes. The veins on his forehead bulged like earthworms, his face flushed crimson, and his expression grew increasingly distorted as his rage could no longer be contained.
Crack!
The broken black pen stabbed straight into his palm. Blood mixed with ink dripped down, yet he seemed completely oblivious to the pain.
"Tell him to get the hell over here and see me!!!"