Chapter 78 - 69: The Trial Begins! Listing the Numerous Crimes

"To the prosecution and the victim’s legal representative, the trial will begin in twenty minutes."

"Please get ready."

A bailiff approached the group and delivered the reminder, then said no more.

Prosecutor Huang Shi paused and gave a slight nod.

"Tsk, the Intermediate Court really is strict. They even give you a heads-up," Xu De remarked from the side, a little impressed.

At the lower courts, they usually didn’t notify you until it was time to head in.

Not like this, where they give you an early warning to avoid any delays.

"Is this your first criminal case representing the victim?"

Huang Shi glanced at the overly familiar lawyer beside him. He didn’t think the man seemed any different from a typical attorney.

In fact, just like him, the man hadn’t been able to produce any evidence during the discovery period.

"Yes," Xu De nodded.

It was, in fact, his first time standing on the same side as the prosecution.

In his past life, he had built his company’s legal department into a powerhouse renowned nationwide for always winning, but their cases were almost exclusively civil or commercial. They’d handled hardly any criminal prosecutions.

And when they did, it was always as the opposition.

’All things considered... this is probably my first time on the same side as a prosecutor.’

As for why Xu De had a stroke of genius on his very first case teaming up with a prosecutor, and how he had the nerve to actually go through with it...

’Never you mind that!’

Huang Shi, for his part, assumed the man’s comment stemmed from nervousness and replied casually:

"The advance notice is just a formality."

"The evidence for a criminal trial is almost always submitted during the discovery period before the trial begins. Even if you forget to bring it to court, the presiding judge has a copy. You can simply reference it."

"But if you don’t have any evidence... heh, then the notice is completely pointless."

Criminal trials are different from regular ones.

In a civil suit, if a contract is lost, forgotten, or goes missing, it’s not a big deal; the court can take a short recess for a few dozen minutes.

But that’s not how criminal court works. A recess there is a matter of days at minimum. During the trial itself, all that matters is the evidence you’ve already presented!

As long as you’ve submitted evidence, the judge will help you recall it even if you don’t bring it up yourself.

But if you haven’t, trying to submit something on the fly is basically pointless. Only evidence submitted during the discovery period can be used readily.

And since the discovery period ends before the trial starts, that bailiff’s twenty-minute warning...

"...does nothing but disturb you. It’s not a useful reminder at all."

Huang Shi shook his head, offering his own take on the matter.

But Xu De saw it differently. "What if this notice makes someone remember a crucial piece of evidence they forgot to submit?" he asked.

Huang Shi laughed. He looked at the young lawyer before him, feeling he was just too green.

He crossed his legs and held forth.

"In a civil case, maybe. You might be able to rebut the defendant or plaintiff with just words."

"But this is criminal court."

"Whatever information, perspective, or line of reasoning you have, you need evidence to back it up!"

"And that evidence must be submitted before the discovery period ends. Otherwise, when you get to court, the judge will most likely refuse to admit it, and will be annoyed with you at the very least."

Rebuttals in criminal court require evidence, and that evidence requires prior examination.

The court won’t give you enough time to examine it during the trial, so a surprise piece of evidence is rarely effective in a criminal hearing.

"Are these two Lawyer Xu’s... colleagues?"

Huang Shi suddenly looked over at Lin Yue and Wang Chao standing behind Xu De, a strange expression on his face.

It wasn’t just him; the other two prosecutors, Zhang Qing and Wang Mang, also found it odd. The reason was...

Of the two, Lin Yue and Wang Chao, one had her head lowered, looking so guilty it was as if she were trying to bury her face in her chest.

The other was so conscience-stricken he couldn’t even look at the three prosecutors, darting his eyes away after a single glance.

’What’s with these two?’

"Haha, these two are my partners, and also my lawyer and assistant."

Xu De laughed heartily, drawing their attention back to himself. He said:

"This is their first time sitting with prosecutors too... so it’s only natural they’re a bit nervous."

"Prosecutor Huang, once court is in session..."

"We’ll be counting on you!"

Xu De’s words were pointed.

But Huang Shi missed the implication and replied casually:

"It’s just a trial. Nothing to be nervous about. You’ll get used to it and grow after a few more."

Prosecutors Wang Mang and Zhang Qing were noncommittal.

Although they were also young and there to learn, they were no longer as awkward as they had been at the start. On the contrary, they were gradually growing into their roles as real prosecutors!

While they had been talking, the time had reached 1:25 PM.

The bailiff standing to one side glanced at the clock. Without hesitation, he rose and walked over to the group of six.

"Five minutes until the trial begins. The case is being heard in the Second Courtroom."

"Everyone, please follow me inside now."

After he spoke, the six of them nodded, rose, and followed.

The case was to be tried in the Second Courtroom.

To be honest, the Second Courtroom wasn’t as large as the First, but that was beside the point. Cases involving minors were usually closed to the public.

With three underage defendants in this case, hell would freeze over before the judge held a public trial.

Since few people would be present, there was no need for a massive courtroom, though the Intermediate Court’s Second Courtroom was by no means small.

Of course.

Although the case was closed to the public, meaning reporters and citizens weren’t allowed inside to watch...

As the saying goes, for every rule, there’s a way around it.

They... could wait in the corridor outside the courtroom door!

The soundproofing in the Intermediate Court’s courtrooms wasn’t very good back then. It was a far cry from the future, where you’d have to press an ear to the door just to hear a faint vibration.