novelraw Chapter 287 - 185. Is he really a murderer? (2 updates, Chapter 2)
Chapter 287 - 185. Is he really a murderer? (2 updates, Chapter 2)
Chapter 287: 185. Is he really a murderer? (2 updates, Chapter 2)
"That’s right."
Huangfu Huazhang also narrowed his eyes and looked up, his gaze gliding coldly over An Cheng and floating towards Mark sitting in the defense seat: "Not all harms that the eyes can see can truly be called harm; the defendant’s methods are far from ordinary harm. Although there are no visible scars or aftereffects, had I arrived even half a step later, she could have been tragically killed!"
"So what the defendant inflicted upon Shi Nian was not ordinary harm, it was murder!"
The jurors and spectators were instantly in an uproar.
Xiang Yuan sensed the unfavorable turn and quickly stood up: "Objection!"
An Cheng turned back, sneering: "Defense lawyer, may I ask what you’re objecting to? The words just now were not spoken by me, but by the witness. How is it that as a defense lawyer, you even want to object to what my witness says in testimony?"
The judge also chuckled: "Objection overruled. A reminder to the defense lawyer: it would be better to clearly see who is speaking before raising objections."
Xiang Yuan was taken aback, realizing that he had made a procedural mistake, instantly turning red in embarrassment.
But a lawyer doesn’t retreat in court due to thin skin, so he insisted: "But Your Honor, the prosecution’s accusation against my client in Shi Nian’s case is assault, not murder. Now the prosecution’s witness is testifying for a nonexistent murder charge. Shouldn’t this be objected to?"
The judge thought for a moment and nodded: "Prosecutor, please pay attention to the charges. Though two charges exist simultaneously, they are aimed at different victims and cases."
An Cheng bowed as well: "Yes, I will pay attention to distinguish them going forward."
An Cheng finished speaking and gave Huangfu Huazhang a subtle glance.
These are nuances understood between those familiar with each other. Yet Huangfu Huazhang seemed to understand, curling a thin smile and nodding at An Cheng with a smile.
An Cheng said, "Alright, we won’t talk about murder under the assault charge. As the prosecutor, I will no longer speak of the defendant’s attempted murder of Shi Nian; let’s return to the charge where murder can be spoken of -- another case, another victim, Kangchuan University’s campus police officer Sean. This is the person the defendant had confessed to killing in front of Shi Nian."
Xiang Yuan immediately stood up again: "Objection! We already explained earlier that when Mark said those words, he was experiencing a psychological transference and didn’t mean what he said personally. This cannot be used to accuse my client of being Sean’s murderer!"
An Cheng sneered and retorted: "That’s what the defense’s expert witness said, but now we’ve invited a new witness with new testimony. Before the judge and jurors confirm, how can the defense use your expert witness’s words to directly forbid our witness from testifying?"
The judge agreed with An Cheng: "Defense, don’t be so quick to object. It’s better to listen to what the prosecution’s witness has to say."
The judge, having served for many years, naturally knew what key points to listen for in court. Some specific words in Huangfu Huazhang’s testimony earlier had already caught the judge’s ears.
Huangfu Huazhang, seated in the witness stand, gave a slight bow to the judge, as graceful as a European medieval noble.
The judge nodded in return: "Prosecution witness, you may continue answering the prosecutor’s questions."
An Cheng smiled with satisfaction and continued questioning: "Mr. Fude, what is the reason you are concerned that the defendant might endanger Shi Nian’s life?"
Huangfu Huazhang slowly restrained his smile: "Precisely because of the murder case the prosecutor mentioned earlier: Kangchuan University’s campus police officer Sean was killed at his post -- the dormitory’s campus police office. According to the police’s forensic report, Sean’s cause of death was also high cervical spine injury, leading to relaxation of the respiratory sphincters, which resulted in Sean’s asphyxiation death. Commonly known as having his neck twisted."
"It’s the exact same method of murder! As the chairman of Kangchuan University’s board of directors, I couldn’t save the deceased campus police officer, but I cannot watch helplessly as a student from my school dies from the same murderous method!"
.
The exact same method of murder... the jurors instantly began whispering among themselves.
An Cheng saw the situation and seized the opportunity, moving to the jury box to speak: "As you jurors have seen from the medical records and heard from our witness’s testimony, it is evident how cunning and vicious the defendant is! Indeed, the victim in the assault case, Shi Nian, did not die, nor did she have visible scars. However, based on Sean’s death, you can imagine the terrifying moment Shi Nian experienced when the defendant strangled her neck. At that moment, breathing was about to stop, life was slipping away, and she could not resist this male, taller and stronger than her, only hopelessly waiting for death to come."
"Jurors, please close your eyes, and you will imagine Shi Nian’s situation at that time... such suffering, how could it be an ordinary harm? The despair between life and death may recur in dreams for years to come, causing immense trauma to her heart?"
"High cervical spine injury, this is such a professional method of killing. The fourth cervical vertebra, this is such a difficult position to accurately locate. If the defendant did not have the deliberate intent to murder Shi Nian, how could he have calmly and accurately executed such a method? How could a defendant who can kill so calmly and precisely using such a hidden and professional method still be considered someone who mistook himself for another in a psychological sense?"
An Cheng turned around and pointed at Mark: "He’s not a patient, he’s a cold-blooded killer!"
Xiang Yuan was shocked and immediately stood up: "Objection! The prosecutor is making arbitrary speculations..."
An Cheng didn’t even give Xiang Yuan a chance to finish protesting. She stood in front of the jury, leaned forward, and captured all the jurors’ attention, giving them no opportunity to get distracted by Xiang Yuan’s words.
"Not only did he cold-bloodedly and cruelly murder the campus police officer Sean, as he himself admitted to Shi Nian, but he also attempted to kill Shi Nian in the same cold-blooded manner. It’s just that Shi Nian was luckier than Sean; she happened to encounter Mr. Fude passing by the crime scene, who rescued her just in time and rushed her to the emergency center to save her life. But her luck should not be used by the defense as a reason for the cold-blooded defendant to escape accountability!"
"Is it Shi Nian’s fault that she wasn’t killed by the defendant and instead survived by luck? Is it Mr. Fude’s fault for intervening when he saw the injustice? On what grounds should these acts of kindness and justice be exploited by the side of evil? Why should they be cloaked under the guise of so-called psychology?"
"Your Honor, members of the jury, the defendant sitting in front of you is the perpetrator of two murder cases. If he escapes this time with trickery, he will harm more people using the same covert methods in the future! Should this person continue lurking in our supposedly peaceful and happy lives, ready to strike at any moment, or should he be restrained with the rope of law? This decision lies in your hands. I implore you, on behalf of the deceased Sean and the injured Shi Nian, to think it over carefully!"
The jury members were visibly affected by An Cheng, and their expressions clearly changed.
Tang Yanqing quickly bowed her head, recording each of the twelve people’s changes in expression in her notebook.
Tang Yanxi also leaned over nervously to look, and upon seeing the changes in data, he too smiled with joy.
It’s 8-to-4 now, compared to the previous 5-to-7, clearly holding more of an advantage.
.
An Cheng returned to her seat satisfied, passing the questioning rights to Xiang Yuan.
Xiang Yuan understood as well; this might be his last chance to turn the tables. He slowly stood up, fastening the buttons of his suit, and contemplated his strategy as he walked toward Huangfu Huazhang.
"Mr. Fude, first allow me to express my personal respect for you. Your status and reputation alone create a significant impact on the psychology of the judge and the jury. I myself hold your appearance in court with respect, but I must remind you—you are merely a witness to the assault case, meaning you are only qualified to testify regarding the assault. Ok, my client has already pleaded guilty in the assault case and authorized me to express apologies and a willingness to make amends. As for the murder of Officer Sean, you truly have no right to comment."
.
Without a doubt, Xiang Yuan was also an expert. He deliberately slowed his speech, using a calm and low tone to gradually cool down the heated courtroom atmosphere stirred by An Cheng. The jurors’ impulsive emotions also gradually subsided, returning to a state of objective and calm contemplation.
Tang Yanqing bowed her head to amend the data. The previous 8-to-4 has fallen back to 7-to-5. While there is an advantage, it is not enough to determine the trial’s outcome.
If the murder charge is to be established, it requires the unanimous approval of all 12 jurors.
.
Facing Xiang Yuan, Huangfu Huazhang remained composed, unhurried, and at ease.
He intertwined his fingers, tips facing each other, and looked at Xiang Yuan with a slight smile.
"I’m really sorry, Lawyer Xiang, but I must publicly refute your words. You’re mistaken; I’m not only a witness to the assault case. I am deeply connected to Sean’s murder case. Even in a certain sense, I could also be considered a witness to that murder."
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[To be continued tomorrow~]
Thanks to Lan for the big red envelope; Weifeng’s red envelope, and red envelopes from 15007275749, 13501235640
6: Xinxin Xiangrong
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