Chapter 139 - 93: The Insane Defendant

"Objection! Objection! Objection!"

The defense team was in an uproar.

Zhang Wei was losing his mind. He was truly losing his mind!

He finally understood why Xu De had kept silent at the start... and even why, just a short while ago, he had asked if the defendant would plead guilty!

He’d never thought for a second that the other side was being kind, and he’d even suspected they were secretly trying to screw him over, but...

Zhang Wei could never have imagined that after his side had pleaded guilty, the opposition would choose to throw the "age" issue in everyone’s faces!

Was it against the rules?

In terms of courtroom procedure, no, it wasn’t a violation.

Why? After all, evidence is supposed to be presented during the indictment phase. Why wasn’t it a violation to present it *after* the defendant confessed?

Because the evidence in their hands was completely useless for the indictment itself!

The indictment is for securing a conviction... whereas age is related to sentencing. Therefore, even though the defendant had confessed, Xu De could still introduce this evidence. And since she had confessed, the prosecution’s charges were considered fundamentally proven...

Robbery, false imprisonment, intentional assault, intentional homicide, extortion...

As Zhang Wei briefly recalled the list of charges, his scalp tingled and his heart pounded with urgency.

"Chief Judge!"

"The evidence submitted by the plaintiff’s agent has no verifiable source, is not corroborated by any objective proof, and its method of acquisition infringes upon the defendant’s right to privacy..."

"This evidence is not credible, not substantiated, and not based on objective fact!"

"I implore the Chief Judge to rule it inadmissible and have the plaintiff’s agent expelled from these proceedings!!!"

His voice was sharp with urgency.

But the pressure from Xu De seemed to have unlocked his hidden potential, for his logic was clear and his speech was flawless, with no stumbles or misspeaking.

It was so clear that even those outside the courtroom could hear every word!

Outside the courtroom.

"Evidence? What evidence!?"

"Why’s the defense so worked up? Didn’t they just confess? Are they unhappy with the sentence?"

"No way. As a minor, the most she can get is fifteen years. After all that, for such a light sentence, how could they possibly be dissatisfied..."

"Then why is he so emotional?"

"I thought I just heard... the agent presented more evidence?"

"More evidence!? The trial is about to conclude. What evidence could there be left to present!?"

"..."

In the hallway, the crowd of reporters erupted into a commotion.

Zhang Wei’s voice was so clear it was as if he were whispering right in their ears. Practically no one missed it.

And it was precisely because they could hear that everyone grew more agitated, craning their necks and standing on tiptoe, staring holes through the main entrance of the Second Tribunal.

Inside the courtroom...

What in the world was going on!?

...

The Bench.

"We demand the plaintiff’s agent be expelled!"

As those words rang out, everyone finally snapped back to their senses.

The Prosecution.

Prosecutor Huang Shi’s expression changed in a flash. He reacted instantly, bolting to his feet and looking to the bench as he began to speak in a rush:

"Chief Judge, the prosecution requests to examine the evidence!"

"No evidence should be immediately dismissed based on its source! We request to examine what the plaintiff’s agent has put forward!"

Examination of evidence...

That’s right. Huang Shi was demanding to examine the evidence!

His hands were trembling, his heart quivering with excitement. His breathing grew shallow and rapid, his chest heaving violently.

The heart in his chest began to contract, to pound furiously...

Hot blood surged through his body, making him feel utterly electrified!

’What did I just hear?’

’An adult?’

’The defendant, Liu Jingqi, is an adult!?’

What did this mean? It meant that this case, which had been a lost cause with no hope of winning, now had an opening—a path to absolute victory.

No, not just a victory... a landslide! A crushing victory!

The only thing that had been tying the hands of the prosecution and the court was her status as a minor. Xu De had just forcibly ripped that obstacle apart... Now, Huang Shi had nothing to fear!

It’s just...

’Damn it, that bastard! Another evidence ambush! Would it have killed him to give me a heads-up!?’

’Twice... he pulled an ambush twice in a single trial!?’

Though Huang Shi was flooded with a mix of emotions, he was still cursing up a storm in his head, and his composure was beginning to waver.

Another ambush... he’s still pulling ambushes!

He had thought Xu De was audacious enough during the last hearing, but he never expected this... He never thought the man would dare to pull the same stunt twice in a row!

But cursing was one thing, and duty was another.

The evidence had to be examined!

"Chief Judge!"

Prosecutor Huang Shi gritted his teeth and seized the opportunity.

"The prosecution requests to examine the evidence!"

At the defense table, Sun Bing roared, "We move to have it dismissed! This evidence requires no examination. It was obtained illegally!"

On the bench.

Hearing the two opposing voices from the floor, Judges Lu Guowei and Zhao Xing were already cursing internally.

’This kind of evidence... To think they wouldn’t even present it at the start of the trial, but just silently bring it into the courtroom like this!’

And yet, they couldn’t just dismiss it... After all, one does not simply dismiss ironclad proof.

Chief Judge Zhang Bingxin also took a deep breath. He picked up the exquisitely crafted gavel, the symbol of judicial authority.

BANG!

"Order in the court! Order!"

A voice filled with authority echoed through the courtroom, sweeping away the cacophony.

Both sides gradually fell silent, but the emotion in their gazes could not be wiped away. It was obvious they would start again the moment they had an opening.

Seizing the opportunity, Chief Judge Zhang Bingxin turned to look at Xu De in the agent’s seat, paused in thought, and said:

"Agent."

"If you please, where did you obtain this evidence?"

For a mysterious piece of evidence that hadn’t been formally submitted, the first requirement was to understand its source.

Upon hearing this, Xu De gave the furious Zhang Wei a slight smile before continuing:

"Chief Judge."

"We went to the Jiaqin Welfare Institute and, through Director Cheng Tao, obtained information regarding the defendant’s age."

"And according to clues provided by the police,"

"The defendant Liu Jingqi’s true age is unknown. Her current legal age was established twelve years ago by the Jiaqin Welfare Institute based on a ’guess’."