MWC – Chapter 122 Prosecution and Defense Strategies

I AM DROPPING THIS NOVEL. IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTINUE THEY CAN. IF POSSIBLE PLEASE SHARE THE LINK SO I CAN BINGE READ TOO.

In Judge Dempsey’ office, Lu Ming, the defense attorney Richard for Little Renault, and Hancock, the defense attorney for Booker, were all seated in front of the judge’s desk.

As the opening statements were about to begin, Judge Dempsey summoned both sides to discuss their strategies.

“Mr. Richard, you’re going for a not guilty plea?” Judge Dempsey appeared unsurprised.

He was an old man with a hooked nose, a type that looked naturally arrogant, but he held Richard in considerable respect.

Richard nodded slightly and looked at Lu Ming, “Of course. Attorney Lu, we can also consider a mutually beneficial deal.”

Judge Dempsey nodded, “Well, good luck to you both.”

If both sides could reach a plea bargain, it would save the lengthy trial process, which would naturally lighten the judge’s workload, especially for such a high-profile case.

On the other side, Hancock shrugged, “I’d also like to reach a deal with the prosecution, but their conditions are too harsh. They insist on my client facing the gallows.”

Judge Dempsey looked at Lu Ming, “Do you realize that if Booker pleads guilty, the subsequent cases, all dozens of them, will be much easier? They will all quickly be convicted.”

Lu Ming nodded, “I understand. However, as the principal culprit in these brutal cases, I don’t think he deserves any leniency. Furthermore, our evidence is sufficient. Whether Booker pleads guilty or not, I am confident we can convict him.”

Hancock snorted, “Is life imprisonment considered leniency? I don’t think so! For a free man, this is the worst punishment. The death penalty should be abolished. Our laws prohibit murder yet still maintain the death penalty; it’s contradictory!”

Judge Dempsey listened without speaking, but there was approval in his eyes.

Lu Ming smiled, “It’s unfortunate your client wasn’t born in Kenya, where the death penalty is abolished. Maybe he could have murdered Mr. Hancock’s parents and family, and Mr. Hancock could forgive him.” He was tired of arguing with abolitionists.

In the entire empire, only one state, Kenya, had abolished the death penalty, and it was one of the core autonomous states of the Westerners.

“I object!” Hancock immediately glared.

Judge Dempsey also frowned slightly, “Attorney Lu, please watch your language.”

Lu Ming shrugged and stood up, “I have nothing more to say. Goodbye!” He turned and left.

Judge Dempsey’ face darkened.

Richard smiled as he stood up, while Hancock muttered something under his breath.

But with no prosecutor present, there was no reason for the two defense attorneys to remain in the judge’s office, lest they be accused of something.

…

“Attorney Richard, I have always respected you.”

Around the corner in the corridor, Lu Ming was waiting for Richard and smiled as he extended his hand.

Richard was slightly surprised but shook hands with Lu Ming.

“You don’t want a plea deal with me?” Lu Ming asked with a smile.

“No, not a plea deal,” Richard smiled, “I hope Attorney Lu will amend the charges. Otherwise, you will gain nothing.”

“What do you mean?” Lu Ming smiled.

“My client has serious mental issues and has been severely tortured. He couldn’t have initiated these horrific events and lacks the capability. If Attorney Lu insists on defining my client as the primary defendant, then when he is acquitted, it will severely impact the prosecution’s reputation in this case. The real perpetrators may also escape conviction. Attorney Lu, you don’t want to see that, do you?”

As he spoke, Richard beckoned his assistant, who quickly handed Lu Ming a document from the briefcase.

“Attorney Lu, this is my updated witness list. I was just about to hand it over to you.”

Lu Ming took it. The witness list had not changed much but added a psychiatric expert named Walker, whose credentials suggested he was a leading authority in psychiatry.

“Mental illness!” Lu Ming frowned. Although his forehead quickly smoothed out, this small detail was noticed by Richard.

“Attorney Lu, good luck, but I still hope you will correct your mistake!” Richard smiled slightly, lifted his hat, and turned to leave.

…

Just as Lu Ming was stepping down the courthouse steps, Cantona excitedly ran out of the car, rushing up a few steps, “Commissioner, we’ve found it! All those glass jars Booker mentioned, the ones with brain matter, they’ve been found and are now being sent to the forensic office…”

Lu Ming nodded, “There will definitely be Little Renault’s fingerprints on them.”

“What? If that’s the case, that’s great!” Cantona was ecstatic.

“Maybe it will just prove that Little Renault is indeed mentally ill!” Lu Ming shook his head and walked towards his vehicle.

“Mental illness?” Cantona was stunned.

…

The Golden Mac Hotel was a five-star hotel in the western district, close to the First Circuit Court. Now, the special investigation team had moved here.

Chief McKen had approved the budget, which surprised the special investigation team.

This case was undoubtedly the most high-profile one the Prosecutor General’s Office had dealt with in recent years, and necessary logistical support was expected. However, booking the most luxurious suites with conference rooms in a five-star hotel as a temporary strategy room seemed excessive.

Lu Ming, however, was not surprised. To Chief McKen, this might be his last act of willfulness.

And today, the initial cheers in the strategy room were soon interrupted by the news from the court.

Initially, after various investigations, the action team finally found a breakthrough. Based on a servant’s testimony, they discovered a secret small apartment where Little Renault hid the victims’ brain matter, and the glass jars were covered with Little Renault’s fingerprints.

But Commissioner Lu brought back Richard’s defense strategy—Little Renault was a person with severe mental illness.

This wasn’t unusual; many murderers’ defense attorneys first considered using mental health reasons for their defense.

But the problem was, how could this excuse convince the jury in a case of racial massacre?

However, when everyone calmed down and re-examined the testimonies and all evidence involving Little Renault, they were surprised to find that the claim of Little Renault having a mental illness was actually quite plausible.

Each victim’s murder was orchestrated by Booker. Although Little Renault participated in several killings, his testimonies always claimed he couldn’t remember what happened, which could be interpreted as a mental breakdown triggered by certain stimuli.

There was also his perverse habit of collecting brain matter and sleeping with it.

Especially as a mentally ill person, he couldn’t possibly be the mastermind behind these cases.

The prosecution’s charges would then appear absurd.

There was originally no evidence to prove he was planning these racial killings. In Booker’s testimony, he had already admitted to being the planner of all the cases.

Booker’s accounts were always deposited by Booker himself, claiming it was his father’s inheritance.

His father had indeed been a wealthy businessman, dealing in small handmade goods. After some Central State merchants joined the competition, his father went bankrupt and committed suicide. It was logical to think he might have left some cash for his son.

A small amount of cash was indeed found in the bank safe deposit box as Booker had described, supposedly the remnants of his father’s inheritance.

All of this made it difficult to link Little Renault with terms like “planner” or “principal offender.”

However, Commissioner Lu insisted on prosecuting Little Renault as the primary culprit.

Jordan, though supporting Commissioner Lu’s view and believing Little Renault was indeed one of the organizers, also thought that with the current evidence, it would be difficult to convict him based on the charges.

And now, it seemed they were in big trouble.

No one knew that after returning to his room, Lu Ming made a few phone calls, and his expression became increasingly calm.