??40: Chapter 40 I Believe You are Innocent!
First Skirmish in Bail Court
40: Chapter 40 I Believe You are Innocent!
First Skirmish in Bail Court
Detention Center.
Zhang Wei was carefully reviewing the case records, word by word.
In front of him sat Tang Chunfeng, a suspect looking uneasy and anxious.
At the neighboring table, similarly fidgety, Tang Chunde and Tang’s Mother kept casting glances toward Zhang Wei from ti to ti.
“Last Friday night at 11 p.m., a ho invasion and murder took place in the West Wind Community of the outer ring.
The tenant, Chen Mou, was brutally murdered in his ho, and there were signs of forced entry.
The Martial Association, based on clues left at the scene and DNA found on Chen Mou’s body, arrested suspect Tang Chunfeng two days later.”
“The eyewitness to the cri is the 8-year-old son of the deceased Chen Mou.
After comparing photos of suspects, he identified Tang Chunfeng as the murderer.
The Dongfang Capital Procuratorate Headquarters has charged suspect Tang Chunfeng with robbery and murder, and the trial is set to begin in two days.”
Zhang Wei put down the case file and looked at Tang Chunfeng in front of him.
Honestly, the mont he saw the man, he thought it impossible that the person before him could be a murderer.
Why?
Because he could tell right away if a person had the guts or not.
Tang Chunfeng was the epito of an honest guy in the eyes of the public.
The biggest mistake he had probably made in his life was forgetting to do howork at school or secretly keeping “study materials” on his computer.
It was hard to imagine soone like him daring to commit murder, let alone breaking and entering followed by murder.
“I want to ask you sothing.
Are you short of money?” Zhang Wei asked calmly, looking at him.
Tang Chunfeng was surprised but answered honestly, “I…
I’m not short of money…”
That was indeed true; although the Tang family wasn’t exceedingly rich, their circumstances were not bad either.
Before Tang’s father passed away, he left them an old house in Central Ring, more than a hundred square ters in size, valued at over 7 million.
After graduating from dical school, Tang Chunfeng ran a dental clinic, and his inco was stable.
He himself had no bad habits, not touching cigarettes, alcohol, or gambling.
Apart from not having taken a wife at over thirty, he could be said to have no vices.
An individual like him, with such family conditions—who would imagine him engaging in burglary?
Zhang Wei thought for a mont, then asked, “According to the testimony you provided to the Martial Association, you left your clinic at around 10 p.m.
and went ho alone.
No one else accompanied you, right?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone see you returning ho?
Like a security guard or neighbors?”
Tang Chunfeng glanced at his mother and shook his head, “My mother goes to bed early; she usually retires by 9:30 p.m., so every ti I co ho, I tread lightly to avoid disturbing her.
As for the neighbors, I drive ho, so I don’t see them either.”
“So, that ans you have no alibi.”
Zhang Wei’s brows furrowed tightly, feeling slightly troubled by the situation.
Because the community where Tang Chunfeng lived was an old one and there were no surveillance caras at his doorstep, proving that Tang Chunfeng went straight ho after work was going to be difficult.
Similarly, the West Wind Community, where the victim Chen Mou lived, was also an old community without surveillance caras.
But this case did not need video evidence; the testimony of the victim’s son was enough.
The only eyewitness firmly identified Tang Chunfeng as the murderer.
It seed like even Heaven’s own emperor couldn’t help in this case.
Tang Chunfeng seed to sense Zhang Wei’s predicant and quickly said, “Lawyer, I’ve never been to the West Wind Community and certainly had no acquaintance with the deceased.
I had no grudge against him.
Why would I kill him?”
“Good question,” Zhang Wei mused, “the prosecution will want to know the answer, and even I am curious!”
Zhang Wei smiled, then turned to look at Tang Chunde and Tang’s Mother, “Are you sure you want to choose ?
I can defend him on the grounds of innocence, but this ans giving up the option of pleading guilty for a reduced sentence.”
“This…” Tang Chunde hesitated.
He had sought out Zhang Wei as a last-resort solution and hadn’t expected Zhang Wei to actually accept the case.
“Let
give you a heads-up—if we go for an innocence defense and lose, then it’s life imprisonnt.”
“But if you opt to plead guilty, the sentence could be around 30 years.
A usual lawyer might get it reduced to 27-28 years, soone with so skills might negotiate it down to about 25 years, and if it’s a lawyer with even more expertise, maybe down to 20 years.”
“If you let
negotiate, try to persuade the victim’s family for forgiveness, and considering your mother’s health condition—that she’s an elderly in need of care—and if the prosecutor happens to have a bit of compassion, I might be able to get it down to 15 years.”
As he said this, Zhang Wei looked at Tang Chunfeng, “You’re in your thirties now; fifteen years later you’d only be around 50, and you’d still have a freedom spanning roughly 30 years!”
Upon hearing “15 years,” Tang Chunde was visibly moved, but Tang’s Mother shook her head.
Tang Chunfeng was initially sowhat tempted, but upon seeing his mother’s reaction, he imdiately shook his head too, “Lawyer, I want to plead innocent.
I do not want to plead guilty to sothing I haven’t done.
Why should I admit to a cri I didn’t commit!”
As he spoke, he looked earnestly at Zhang Wei.
“I’m already in my thirties.
My mother gave birth to
at around 30.
Who can guarantee that when I’m 50, I will still be able to see her and be by her side every day?
I don’t want to live with such a regret!”
“Alright, I understand, and I also believe you are innocent!” Zhang Wei glanced at Tang’s Mother and nodded to indicate he understood.
His words also took Tang Chunfeng by slight surprise.
Because this was the first lawyer who had said he believed in him, whereas other lawyers only thought about making him confess, none had ever asked him if he actually committed the cri.
Tang Chunfeng was so moved that he was almost in tears.
Zhang Wei, however, wasn’t too sentintally affected; he just began to think about how to handle this case.
Since Tang Chunfeng’s stance was so firm, he had no choice but to opt for a defense of innocence.
And he also had so suspicions in his heart—if Tang Chunfeng didn’t do it, then who did?
He wanted to find the real killer and clear the na of the innocent man before him.
“Lawyer Zhang, could you co out for a mont…”
But just as Zhang Wei prepared to continue his questioning, Tang Chunde suddenly called him.
Zhang Wei and Tang Chunde stepped out of the eting room and into the corridor outside.
“Lawyer Zhang, were you serious about the 15 years?”
“What, you want your brother to confess?”
“I’m considering it…”
Tang Chunde didn’t deny it, seeming to be genuinely tempted by the prospect of 15 years.
Seeing this, Zhang Wei patted him on the shoulder, “Old Tang, are you possibly confused about one thing?”
“What thing?”
“My client isn’t you, but your brother, Tang Chunfeng.
Why should I take your opinion into consideration?”
With those words, Tang Chunde realized that Zhang Wei was fighting the lawsuit for his brother, not for him.
“But, I’m the one who called you here…”
“But I’m a public defender.
I don’t take lawyer’s fees, so why should I listen to you?”
Zhang Wei patted Tang Chunde’s shoulder again, with a heartfelt tone, “Old Tang, I don’t take money, so nobody can command .
I only speak for the facts, do you understand?”
Then, he went back into the eting room, leaving Tang Chunde alone with a face full of astonishnt.
Inside the eting room.
“Lawyer Zhang, what do we do next?”
“It’s simple.
First, let’s try to get you out on bail, you can’t help
much from the detention center.”
“Bail, does that require a lot of money?”
“Well I’ll ask, how much can you afford?”
“This…”
Tang Chunfeng and Tang’s Mother both looked toward the entrance at Tang Chunde; it was clear that he was the one with the money now.
…
At the sa ti.
Dongfang Capital Procuratorate Headquarters, Serious Cri Division.
Compared to the crowded Office of Minor Cris, the Serious Cri Division office space was at least twice as big, and the number of people inside was roughly the sa, so everyone’s personal space was very spacious.
Even when newbies were promoted to assistant prosecutors, each of them would have a separate office.
This was the target many prosecutors from the Office of Minor Cris strived for; they dread of joining the Serious Cri Division to gain more comfortable office space.
“Sister Baihe, it’s not good, there’s big trouble!”
Tan Yingying rushed from the Office of Minor Cris to the Serious Cri Division Office.
“What is it, you’re so panicked!” Xiao Baihe was originally buried in paperwork, but on hearing the noise, she raised her head like an ostrich.
“Sister Baihe, there’s big trouble, Zhang Wei has taken on another case!”
Tan Yingying called out, but upon noticing sharp glances from around the room, she quickly crouched down and moved closer to Xiao Baihe, “I’ve been keeping watch on Zhang as you instructed, and I found out he’s taken another case.”
“Ying Ying, isn’t it normal for him to take cases now that he’s a public defense attorney?”
Xiao Baihe felt she had misspoken before, she rely told Tan Yingying to keep a close eye on Zhang Wei, not to relentlessly pursue him for every big and small matter, right?
“No, this case isn’t an ordinary one.” Tan Yingying quickly shook her head, lifted her gaze, and pointed to the neighboring table, saying, “This ti, Zhang Wei took on that case, the ho invasion murder case investigated by Prosecutor Wang from your office!”
“That case?!” Hearing Tan Yingying’s hint, Xiao Baihe also realized what she ant.
“Isn’t Zhang Wei asking for trouble by taking this case, dare he even think of reducing the sentence?”
“No, I heard he wants to make a not guilty plea, and they are applying for bail for the suspect right now!”
“Bail, are they stupid with too much money?”
Xiao Baihe was astonished, thinking of a not guilty defense for this case—Zhang Wei must have lost his mind.
If this case gets overturned, I, Xiao Baihe, will eat the computer screen in front of
on the spot!
“Sister Ying Ying, what should we do?” Tan Yingying looked at Xiao Baihe, unaware that soone had just made a flagrant vow.
“Let’s go and give Wang Can a heads-up, remind him to be careful!”
Wang Can and Xiao Baihe worked in the sa office, and their desks were just a few ters apart.
Wang Can was a prosecutor in his late twenties, wearing gold-frad glasses, his eyes long and narrow like a fox’s, giving off a sowhat cunning vibe.
“Yo, isn’t this our ace prosecutor?
What brings you to my desk?
Here to guide my work?”
Although Wang Can and Xiao Baihe were neighbors, Xiao Baihe wasn’t very popular in the office, which made Wang Can’s greeting sound sowhat sarcastic.
No wonder, since Xiao Baihe had joined the Procuratorate Headquarters just a year ago, she had handled over a dozen major cases, with both performance and conviction rates that were the best in the office, setting a new record for newcors.
Her prominence made it difficult for her office mates to hold their heads high, and as a result, she was isolated by others.
This was also why Xiao Baihe got along with Tan Yingying, as the two were from the sa hotown and worked in different offices.
Facing Wang Can’s snide greeting, Xiao Baihe kept her cool, her face icy, but she managed to refrain from retaliating.
She rely gave a cold reminder, “Your case’s suspect has hired a public defense attorney.
You should be careful, no?”
“A public defense attorney?” But Wang Can was dismissive, chuckling, “My case is rock solid, it doesn’t matter who cos, especially not a public defense attorney.
They don’t charge attorney fees, so they just want the suspect to plead guilty as soon as possible!”
“The lawyer’s na is Zhang Wei!”
“So what if it’s Zhang Wei, I don’t know him… Wait, you said Zhang Wei?”
Wang Can’s expression changed several tis, from initial indifference, to sowhat catching on, and finally becoming excited.
He suddenly stood up, glanced at Tan Yingying, and then laughed loudly, “Hahaha, are you sure, that Zhang Wei took on the case I’m handling?”
His voice was so loud that the entire Serious Cri Division Office could hear him.
The na “Zhang Wei” had been looming over the Procuratorate Headquarters like a shadow these days.
Many prosecutors wanted to face off with Zhang Wei to redeem the sha that the Procuratorate had suffered.
And now, Zhang Wei was taking action again, picking a case that seed unwinnable.
“Zhang Wei, is it really him?”
“Wang Can’s case, is it the ho invasion murder case?”
“This is serious, even choosing a losing case, he isn’t trying to save our face, is he?”
The other prosecutors of the Serious Cri Division couldn’t help but discuss it among themselves, whispering and murmuring.
After his outburst, Wang Can said to Xiao Baihe, “Xiao Baihe, no need for your reminder, I know what to do.
If that Zhang Wei really took this case, watch how I beat him till he’s down and out!”
After speaking, he, still not satisfied, looked at Tan Yingying with an insinuating tone, “Newcors can’t represent our Procuratorate Headquarters.
If you want to talk about our headquarters, you have to look at our Serious Cri Division!”
“Wang Can, there’s an application for bail in the court!”
“Hmph, so they really made a move!”
Upon hearing his colleague’s notification, Wang Can sneered, picked up the docunts from his desk, and left.
He evidently didn’t take Xiao Baihe’s warning to heart.
“Sister Baihe, what should we…”
“Let’s go, let’s follow them and see what Zhang Wei is planning to do!”
Tan Yingying wanted to say sothing, but Xiao Baihe pulled her along, and together with Wang Can, they left the office.
…
Bail hearing.
By the ti Wang Can, representing the prosecution, arrived at the bail hearing, Zhang Wei had already been waiting for so ti.
Yet, when they saw each other, neither greeted the other.
“Hmm?” At the sa ti, Zhang Wei also noticed Xiao Baihe and Tan Yingying, who had co along with Wang Can.
Zhang Wei smiled at the two of them.
However, his smile seed like a demon from hell in Tan Yingying’s eyes, causing her to shudder with fear.
Clearly, the previous court confrontation had left an indelible psychological mark on the rookie.
Xiao Baihe, noticing Tan Yingying’s fear, quickly comforted her and shot Zhang Wei a fierce look in return.
But at this mont, Zhang Wei was already preparing for the bail hearing and paid her no attention.
The bail court was busy, with a long line of people ahead; it wasn’t until 30 minutes later that it was Zhang Wei’s turn.
“Your Honor, the prosecution believes that the defendant Tang Chunfeng should not be granted bail.
He has committed preditated murder, which is extrely serious.
If granted bail, there is a substantial risk of flight!”
Prosecutor Wang, pointing at Tang Chunfeng, made a stringent argunt.
“Your Honor, I think the prosecution’s assessnt is utterly absurd!” Zhang Wei disagreed and, looking at Wang Can, said slowly:
“My client, Mr.
Tang Chunfeng, is rely a suspect.
Although he is subject to criminal prosecution, the court has yet to bring charges and make a judgnt.
Suspects and convicted criminals known to the public are different; based on the principle of presumption of innocence, unless proven guilty by trial, all suspects theoretically are innocent.
Why would the prosecution rashly insist that my client is guilty?
This is clearly an unethical accusation.”
The judge looked aningfully at Wang Can and subconsciously nodded at Zhang Wei’s words.
“Well said.
Therefore, this court decides that Tang Chunfeng is permitted bail.”
From the back, Xiao Baihe muttered to herself, “As expected.”
Wang Can showed weakness in the first exchange, which Zhang Wei pointed out directly.
“Prosecution, what do you think the bail amount should be?” the judge asked again.
Having been bested by Zhang Wei the first ti, Wang Can thought for a mont before responding, “The defendant, Tang Chunfeng, is facing a murder charge and poses potential risks.
We believe the bail should be set at 5 million!”
The figure of 5 million startled everyone, including Tang Chunfeng, Tang Chunde, and Tang’s mother.
It wasn’t that they couldn’t produce that amount of money, but it would require selling their house.
“Your Honor, I disagree with the prosecution!”
Zhang Wei also knew the bail amount was preposterous and imdiately spoke up: “Your Honor, my client, Mr.
Tang Chunfeng, is a dentist who received a good education from a young age.
He hasn’t even received a traffic ticket, let alone committed any cris.
His moral character is undoubtedly good.”
“Besides, bail is a way to prevent suspects from evading the investigation and to ensure they cooperate with the court’s summons in the upcoming trials.
My client has lived in Dongfang Capital all his life, with family and social ties all in this city.
He has no risk of flight.”
As Zhang Wei spoke, he asked Tang Chunfeng, “Tell , would you flee?”
“I would not!” Tang Chunfeng imdiately responded.
Zhang Wei nodded and then handed a docunt to the judge.
“Your Honor, my client has always lived with his mother, and Tang’s mother’s health has always been poor.
This is her latest dical diagnosis, indicating she had undergone a surgery just three months ago.
As you can see, my client needs to take care of his elderly mother at ho.
Therefore, please allow my client to be released on bail at a reasonable amount.”
The judge looked up, glanced at Tang’s mother, who was being supported by Tang Chunde, and looked back down at the docunt.
“The court approves, bail is set at 500,000.”
With the judge’s gavel, the bail amount was reduced from 5 million to 500,000.
Wang Can looked displeased; he had been outmaneuvered by Zhang Wei twice in a row at this minor bail hearing.
He didn’t even bother to watch how Zhang Wei, the defendant, and his party left the bail court.
As he walked down, Xiao Baihe approached him.
“Wang Can, I warned you, don’t underestimate him.
Zhang Wei is no simple character!”
After saying this, Xiao Baihe also left with Tan Yingying.
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