Chapter 135 - 91: The Time Has Come! The Oriole Behind

The school bears an undeniable responsibility for the location where the incident occurred...

At these words, everyone in the room frowned slightly.

Zhang Wei continued:

"First, there were lapses in campus management and a failure to promptly stop the bullying."

"The school’s responsibility for allowing this incident to occur falls into two categories. First, the campus administrators."

"The administrators failed to fulfill their duty of supervision. They failed to act as mediators to promptly resolve the conflict between the students. Instead, they allowed the conflict between the deceased and the defendants to escalate!"

"For example, the school’s teacher, Lv Guangjun."

"His actions directly contributed to the conflict between the defendant, Liu Jingqi, and the deceased, Yang Jiale!"

Zhang Wei spoke in a low, serious voice. His words seemed to have a certain logic, but when taken as a whole, they were completely illogical.

’The school didn’t fulfill its responsibility?’

’Then how was the school supposed to fulfill it?’

’It was a completely impossible situation!’

After all, the school grounds were huge. You couldn’t just install surveillance cameras everywhere, could you? Not even 360-degree, no-blind-spot monitoring in the restrooms, right?

’That’s not realistic.’

And yet, education policy explicitly and mandatorily requires schools to bear this responsibility!

That’s right. Most people don’t know this, but this requirement is actually written into law.

According to Article 39 of the Juvenile Protection Law.

Schools have a mandatory obligation to prevent and control bullying. Even if they merely fail to establish a system, fail to intervene, or fail to report an incident—without even being an instigator—it is considered a violation of the law, and they can be held accountable!

Of course, if the students were adults, the school would have little responsibility. But... all three defendants are legally classified as minors!

Therefore...

"The school should bear partial responsibility for this case, especially the teacher, Lv Guangjun!"

Zhang Wei’s tone was firm, showing not a hint of shame for throwing Lv Guangjun under the bus.

Keep in mind, it was because of Liu Jingqi’s family that Lv Guangjun was now mixed up in a criminal case...

He even served as a witness for them at the last hearing!

But Zhang Wei still sold him out, without a moment’s hesitation.

"In conclusion."

"In this case, both the school and the family’s guardianship were inadequate. The responsibility should be shared among multiple parties, and the defendants should not bear the full criminal liability alone."

Zhang Wei spoke again, tossing out a series of legal arguments to bolster his defense.

Then, in a flash, he added:

"Fourth."

"Presiding Judge, Adjudicators."

"After the incident occurred, the defendants showed no signs of resistance. In fact, one could even call it..."

"Voluntary surrender."

’Volun... voluntary surrender!?’

In that instant, as those two words fell, everyone present froze, their gazes fixed on him.

Zhang Bingxin said, "Continue."

"It’s simple. According to the legal definition of voluntary surrender."

"According to Article 67 of the Criminal Law, and with reference to the *National Unified Training Materials for Judges*."

"The description of voluntary surrender explicitly states that if the police have not yet secured the scene and it is still in a chaotic state, choosing not to flee when one has the chance constitutes a voluntary surrender!"

"According to the case description."

"My clients, the defendants Liu Jingqi, Jiang Yu, and Qiao Wang, had every opportunity to flee after the incident."

"But none of the three chose to do so."

As Zhang Wei spoke, his listeners’ brows furrowed.

But he turned his gaze to the opposing counsel, Xu De, a smile spreading across his face as he slowly continued:

"Finally!"

"The three defendants are all minors. They are malleable and capable of being rehabilitated."

"Therefore, the defense requests that the court..."

"Prioritize education, rehabilitation, and salvation, grant a lenient sentence, and give them a chance to turn over a new leaf!"

"The defense rests its case."

Voluntary surrender...

A chance to turn over a new leaf...

As his words faded, the few people in the courtroom looked on with expressions of faint astonishment.

「On the judge’s bench.」

The three judges, as if remembering something, all lowered their heads and began to confer in low voices.

The same was happening at the prosecution’s table. Huang Shi immediately looked to Zhang Qing, frowning as he sought his colleague’s counsel.

Xu De watched Zhang Wei, who wore a relaxed smile, and narrowed his eyes. His fingers, resting on the table, tapped unconsciously.

「Outside the courtroom.」

"Voluntary surrender?!"

"Wait a minute... isn’t that the same tactic the defense used in the Li Family Village case back in October!?"

"If you just go by what he’s saying... it does seem to have something to do with voluntary surrender..."

"No, wait, isn’t that Xu De’s move? He’s on the prosecution’s side now!"

「Outside the Second Courtroom.」

A few reporters, who had been listening with bated breath, showed surprise on their faces. They opened their eyes and began whispering amongst themselves.

And the truth was just as everyone suspected.

’As the saying goes: learn the enemy’s tricks to defeat them!’

’Though Xu De was hardly a barbarian.’

’That didn’t mean others couldn’t learn his moves!’

So...

"Director, they stole your move. What are you going to do?"

「At the victim’s legal representative’s table.」

Wang Chao watched Zhang Wei, raised an eyebrow, and turned his gaze to Xu De.

He expected Xu De to look annoyed, or at the very least, mutter a curse or two. But on the contrary...

Xu De showed no expression at all.

’If I had to describe it... was it a smile?’

’A meaningful smile!?’

"Director, you should curse him out a bit. You can’t be smiling. A courtroom is a serious place," Wang Chao suggested in a low voice.

Xu De ignored him.

Before long.

The presiding judge, Zhang Bingxin, finished his discussion. He took a deep breath and looked toward the prosecution’s table.

"Prosecution, do you have any objections to raise?"

At these words, Huang Shi and the others at the prosecution’s table opened their mouths. After a brief pause to think, Huang Shi spoke up:

"Presiding Judge, the prosecution objects!"

"According to the case file provided by the police, the original text clearly states: ’After reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing classmates, and questioning teachers, the investigation ultimately focused on the defendants. After comparing the evidence, they were confirmed as the suspects in the case...’"

"The police never said the defendants surrendered voluntarily!"