MWC – Chapter 129 Even if there are thousands of people, I will go

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

After the three-member committee ruled that the trial process of the “White Rose” case was in accordance with the procedure, lawyer Richard made a brief statement in front of the garden of his rented villa, expressing his disappointment with “everything that happened here,” and then left Eastern Sea.

His disappointment seemed to be directed at the Renault family involved, or perhaps at the legal system of Eastern Sea. It depended on one’s perspective. For example, his supporters in the Imperial Capital would certainly interpret it as the latter.

Regardless, Richard’s departure signified his defeat as the representing lawyer in Eastern Sea.

The new lawyer hired by the Renault family to represent young Renault was Fawkes, a high-level lawyer from the Reed Law Firm in Western District of Eastern Sea.

Apparently, he accepted the case for a substantial fee, as none of Eastern Sea’s top lawyers wanted to take on such a messy case that Richard could not resolve. No one wanted to inherit this bad situation.

Fawkes applied for a delay on the grounds of changing the defense attorney. The court granted three days, and the prosecution did not object.

However, Fawkes evidently found no new arguments. His attacks on the prosecution’s witnesses’ character lost the jury’s favor, especially under Jordan’s counterattacks.

…

On the day of the closing arguments, the gallery was already packed early. Even outside the court, journalists with their cameras were ready.

As the judges and bailiffs took their seats, the court gradually quieted down.

At nine o’clock, Judge Dempsey announced the start of the closing arguments.

Lu Ming slowly stood up and walked to the jury box.

“There is a statistic that perhaps none of you know: over ninety-nine point nine percent of those who stand trial in criminal cases are guilty.

Many criminal defense lawyers feel a great sense of frustration, but they also hope to encounter that point one percent. That is the noble purpose of a criminal defense lawyer.

However, reality is cruel. Especially in murder cases, the final suspect, identified through meticulous investigation by the prosecution and police, is usually not innocent. But because the evidence chain sometimes cannot perfectly reflect the entire incident, many escape legal punishment. Of course, from a legal standpoint, they are innocent.

In this case, there is no issue of insufficient evidence. A substantial amount of evidence proves that Jeff Renault participated in the mob’s revelry and at least seven murders. Jeff Renault’s lawyer argues that he was mentally unstable at the time.

Your duty is to use your wisdom to judge whether Jeff Renault, as he repeatedly stabbed the victims with sharp weapons and listened to their screams, was truly unaware of his actions!

In fact, the second defendant, Booker, admitted in court that all the terror activities were planned by him and the first defendant together.”

Booker’s defense lawyer, Hancock, looked grim. He knew he had been played by Richard, the Renault family, and Booker, making him appear as a clown.

Now, he just waited to finish the closing arguments quickly to get his bill paid, even though it was likely the Renault family would foot Booker’s bill too.

Standing before the jury, Lu Ming continued, “Although Booker is an untrustworthy witness, if his testimony about planning all the murders with the first defendant is not credible, then his claim of solely planning everything is even less credible.

I’ve never seen such a defendant in court. First, at the police station, he confessed and took all the blame upon himself.

Then, in court, he recanted and accused the first defendant of being the mastermind, even more so than himself.

The evidence he provided was also fragile.

Ultimately, what effect did his testimony have? It further proved the first defendant’s innocence.

I believe there is a deeper reason here. Booker has been protecting Jeff Renault.

This reminds me of the relationship between employees and their boss. Naturally, Renault Films is a super company capable of investing tens of millions to build a skyscraper!”

Fawkes, young Renault’s new defense lawyer, frowned but could not interrupt the closing argument. He could only respond in his own closing argument later. According to Eastern Sea’s legal principles, in criminal cases, the prosecution always delivers the first closing argument to protect the defendant’s interests.

Lu Ming continued, “Throughout this trial, the first defendant, Jeff Renault, was never brought to the witness stand by the defense. Although I shouldn’t question this from a legal principle standpoint, as every defendant has the right to remain silent, the problem is the defense keeps claiming Jeff Renault has severe mental issues but only provided vague video clips to prove it. I believe a mentally ill person’s behavior on the witness stand would differ from a normal person’s. The wise jurors would surely notice this difference.

So why did the defense never put him on the witness stand?”

Some jurors nodded, clearly supporting the idea that Jeff Renault was not mentally ill.

Lu Ming sighed, “Maybe it’s because of my bad reputation. In the legal field, I have a notorious reputation. Someone without mental illness might be driven to appear mentally ill under my cross-examination. Perhaps the defense lawyer was worried that Jeff Renault, under my questioning, would get better, using poison to fight poison, becoming normal, and wise jurors would see him as sane.”

Some jurors laughed.

Judge Dempsey slightly frowned. He could remind the speaker of inappropriate statements during the closing arguments but only slightly frowned without saying anything.

Fawkes gritted his teeth. It was rumored that Lu Qianxing insisted on not replacing him, avoiding a reputation crisis for him. Was this his way of returning the favor?

Amidst the jurors’ and gallery’s light laughter, Lu Ming sighed, “Actually, this is a very sad thing. A brutal killer who enjoyed murder, sleeping with human brains, and here I can’t even loudly accuse him on behalf of the victims. This ironically fits legal logic. Is this sad? Truly sad!”

The previously smiling jurors became serious, even somewhat ashamed.

“And the power to accuse and punish him is in your wise hands! The goddess of justice has given you the power to deliver justice! I hope you, wise jurors, demonstrate your fairness! Use the harshest punishment to roar for those poor souls, to give peace to those still trapped in glass jars!

Jeff Renault should face the severest punishment!

Thank you!” Lu Ming bowed slightly and returned to the prosecution’s seat.

Jordan gently patted the heavy-hearted Lu Ming on the shoulder, feeling that this gravity might mostly be an act.

In his closing argument, Lu Ming only mentioned the second defendant once, but everyone knew Booker would definitely be found guilty by the jury.

Fawkes slowly stood up, and Jordan, not interested in listening, plugged in his earphones.

In the lounge, Jordan was pacing back and forth.

The jury had already returned to their room to start voting.

The result could come out quickly, though it could also take several days.

Since the decision must be unanimous, if even one juror disagrees, the verdict is not valid.

Jordan hadn’t listened to Fawkes’ closing arguments, but he heard they were mediocre, and Hancock’s were even worse.

Team leaders Gao Shinian, Zhang Xianhe, and Cantona were also present.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the lounge door, “The jury is back.”

“So soon?” Jordan was surprised.

“What does this mean?” Cantona whispered to Zhang Xianhe.

“It could be a very good result or a very bad one,” Zhang Xianhe essentially gave a non-answer.

Indeed, most of the time, no one could guarantee the jury’s decision before the final judgment.

Although Lu Ming’s closing arguments were truly excellent, manipulating the jurors’ emotions from start to finish.

…

Both the prosecution and defense, along with the defendants, returned to the courtroom.

The second defendant, Booker, showed no emotion. From the day he confessed, he seemed to have resigned himself to his fate.

Young Renault looked nervously in the direction of the jurors.

His gaze occasionally drifted to Lu Ming, becoming complicated whenever it did. Perhaps he desperately wanted to ask Lu Ming why.

In one corner of the gallery, old Renault sat expressionless.

The clerk handed the jury’s verdict to the judge, a folded white card. Judge Dempsey glanced at it and then handed it back to the clerk, who returned it to the jury’s foreperson.

“Foreperson, have you reached a unanimous verdict?”

“Yes, Your Honor!”

“Rise for the verdict!” The clerk announced loudly.

Everyone stood up, but young Renault’s legs almost gave out.

The foreperson, a middle-aged woman, opened the white card and read, “Eastern Sea First Circuit Court, Case No. 950092158, after deliberation by the jury, unanimously finds the first defendant guilty of first-degree endangerment of public safety…” She paused, “Guilty!”

Young Renault’s face turned white, and he sat back down in a daze.

The verdict continued, with all charges, including those against the second defendant, found guilty.

“Thank you, jury!” Judge Dempsey struck his gavel forcefully, “Return the first and second defendants to custody! Sentencing will be held in three days! Court is adjourned!”

Immediately, the prosecutors in the prosecution seats and those in the gallery erupted in cheers.

“Lu Qianxing, tell me why! Why are you relentlessly after me like a mad dog? Is it because you couldn’t extort money at the Tower Restaurant? Should I not have approached you, should I not have tried to scare you?!”

Young Renault, nearly hysterical, jumped up and pointed at Lu Ming.

Several bailiffs had already stepped forward to handcuff and shackle him.

But he struggled desperately, “Tell me, tell me?!”

Many were shocked by this scene.

Lu Ming looked at him quietly, “Initially, it wasn’t about wanting to destroy you. It started with little Martha, then there was Zhao Xuecheng, then Gao Xiue, and many more people!”

“Who are they, who is Martha?! Who?! Who is Zhao, who? Who?!” Young Renault struggled desperately.

The bailiffs were no longer polite and quickly gagged him, leaving him to make muffled sounds.

Lu Ming looked at him, “You wouldn’t understand.”

Turning around, he saw old Renault in the gallery, staring blankly at him.

Lu Ming nodded to him and, surrounded by prosecutors, walked out of the courtroom, immediately greeted by countless flashes of cameras.