MWC – Chapter 123 No Deal

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 the criminal case being tried in the Western District, the jury was almost entirely composed of Westerners, and the “Little Renault Case” was no exception.

Originally, it was a massacre by a radical organization, but in the Western media’s portrayal, it became the unfortunate case of a noble scion killing due to mental distress. Most Western media referred to this case as the “Little Renault Case.”

Hancock’s defense of Booker was unsuccessful. Jordan, the second prosecutor sitting for the prosecution, focused on exposing Booker’s crimes one by one to the jury, including some horrifying photos of the victims, which elicited strong emotional reactions from the jury.

However, when Jordan subtly mentioned that Little Renault was also involved in some of these atrocities, the jurors remained silent.

“Booker, when you dismembered this poor girl you called the grocery store piglet, was Jeff Renault, the first defendant, also present? And was it he who cut off the girl’s arm?” Jordan questioned Booker on the witness stand.

Booker was a burly man covered in tattoos, with a fierce appearance that naturally evoked dislike.

“Objection!” Little Renault’s defense attorney, Richard, raised his hand.

On the other hand, Hancock, Booker’s defense attorney, saw it as advantageous for his client if Little Renault took on some of the blame.

“I have no further questions for now,” Jordan said, bowing slightly to Judge Dempsey and returning to the prosecution’s table.

Richard stood up and slowly walked over to Booker.

“How is your relationship with Jeff Renault, the first defendant in this case, Mr. Little Renault?” Richard asked.

Booker thought for a moment. “We get along very well.”

“According to many witness statements, you two often had private conversations. Is that correct?”

“Yes, we would discuss who the next target would be and how to hunt them…”

“Objection!” Richard immediately changed his expression. “The second defendant’s statement to the police does not align with this!”

Jordan, seated at the prosecution’s table, was stunned and looked at Lu Ming with surprise. Did Commissioner Lu apply some pressure?

Hancock stood up. “My client admitted to me an hour ago that he accepted a bribe from an employee of Renault Company, which is why he gave a false statement. After this session, I will formally file a complaint!” Hancock was secretly pleased. He had taken the case for a good fee, not expecting to win. But now, if the prosecution insisted on implicating Little Renault as the main planner, reducing some of Booker’s charges could mean a technical victory over Richard in this case, a result beyond his wildest dreams.

Moreover, his client had confessed to him that he accepted a bribe from Renault Company, took the blame to protect Little Renault, and regretted it when he realized the death penalty was inevitable. Hence, Hancock orchestrated this courtroom ambush.

Even though Richard had tried to discuss a united front with him, Hancock felt no moral burden. Co-defendants often turned against each other, and reducing one’s sentence could mean increasing the other’s.

Watching Richard frown before the witness stand, Hancock smirked inwardly, thinking, “If you didn’t see this coming, you underestimated me.”

“Your Honor, I request the summoning of defendants 3, 5, 6, and 13!” Richard looked towards the judge.

These defendants were involved in individual cases and were also part of the White Rose Movement, serving as witnesses against Little Renault in the current case.

Jordan felt somewhat guilty about these people. They had agreed to testify against Little Renault in exchange for reduced charges, but their lawyers, mostly legal aid, had not diligently explained the intricacies to them. They were unaware that they would still face the death penalty.

However, considering their actions, Jordan’s guilt quickly faded.

The third defendant, James, was an ugly brute.

Richard walked slowly to him. “James, how did you come to know Mr. Little Renault?”

“Booker introduced us,” James said simply.

“And how did Booker describe Mr. Little Renault to you?” Richard asked.

“Booker said this new friend was very rich but a bit silly, with mental problems.”

“This new friend is Mr. Little Renault, the young man seated as the first defendant, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Did Booker ever explain why he thought Mr. Little Renault had mental problems?”

“No, but I know why!” James licked his thick lips and smiled. “They all think I’m dumb, but I’m not.”

“So, why did you think Mr. Little Renault had mental problems?”

“When we played with him, we never told him what the game was, as Booker instructed. But every time before playing, we would play ‘The Shepherd’ music in the cabin, then bring in the prey, and he would go crazy, like a madman…” James laughed, shaking his head.

“I have no further questions,” Richard said, bowing slightly to the court.

Jordan stood up and took a few steps forward. “Mr. James, the ‘play’ you mentioned involved cruelly killing living people. The ‘prey’ in the tragic incident on March 9th last year was a thirteen-year-old girl who was an excellent student. Now, can you describe how you killed her?”

“Objection! This is an emotional manipulation of the jury!” Richard immediately raised his hand.

Judge Dempsey gestured. “Overruled.”

James laughed foolishly. “I made the first cut, Abel made the second, and some other guys made more cuts. Mr. Little Renault was dazed at first, but then he went crazy and kept cutting, making seven or eight cuts.”

Jordan frowned, realizing that James was not as foolish as he seemed. His description, though bloody, downplayed the horror, turning the victim into a symbol. Richard could use this portrayal later.

“Can you specify which parts of the victim you cut while she was still alive?”

“Objection. Detailed descriptions belong in the trial of case number 950092161. In this case, the witness has already described Jeff Renault’s specific actions.”

“Objection sustained. The witness does not need to answer.”

Jordan nodded, looking at James. “You described Jeff Renault as going mad. How do you define madness versus normalcy? For example, were you mad when you killed?”

“Objection. The witness is not an expert. His definition of madness is based on common understanding. The prosecution’s request for a definition is unreasonable.”

“Objection sustained.”

Jordan wanted to ask more but saw Lu Ming’s gesture and reluctantly nodded. “No further questions.”

He turned and walked back to his seat.

Lu Ming patted his shoulder. “If it were me, I wouldn’t have done any better.”

Jordan shook his head, feeling dejected.

“Ten-minute recess!” Judge Dempsey banged the gavel, signaling a break.

As people moved around freely, Hancock walked over and placed a note on the prosecution table.

It read, “Life imprisonment for Little Renault.”

Jordan’s heart stirred at the possibility of a plea deal with Booker to implicate Little Renault, which might be the best solution for this case.

But Lu Ming shook his head. “The gallows.”

Hancock glared at Lu Ming for a while before turning and leaving.