The opposing lawyer frowned, revealing an unhappy expression: "Ms. Shen is speaking recklessly here. May I ask if she has any evidence?"
"..." At that time, Lu Lingrui took her through deserted alleys with no surveillance cameras in order to meet Lu Lingchuan sooner, so there were no other witnesses, and no surveillance footage as physical evidence.
"If there is no substantial evidence, I'm afraid I cannot accept Ms. Shen's oral testimony. Just now, Lawyer Xu also introduced Ms. Shen's identity. As one of the victims herself, and a close friend of the other victim Ms. Lu, the two must have been on very good terms. Therefore, after Ms. Lu jumped off the building at that time, it's understandable that Ms. Shen harbored extreme resentment towards my client. In her grief, she developed anger and a desire for revenge, which is only natural. Because of this resentment, she intentionally fabricated some nonsense to distort the facts."
"So, if there is no substantial evidence, I'm very sorry Ms. Shen, but your testimony cannot be accepted, and my side will not admit to it."
Lu Lingchuan's gaze sharpened, his eyes as cold as ice, staring straight at the opposing defense lawyer.
Originally, the opposing side was quite confident, even holding their heads high.
Before the trial, he had received a promise that if he could get the other side to lose the case, not only would he receive his normal fee, but an additional one million as a hardship allowance.
If his client was sentenced to three years, the hardship allowance would be two million; if only one year, five hundred thousand; but if he could successfully defend and get his client acquitted on the spot, one million! Plus a high-end villa in the city center! And he would gain the lifelong protection of their two families.
It's worth noting that the Wang and Yang families were both wealthy and influential. If he could get on their good side, he would be unstoppable in the legal world!
This was extremely tempting.
He was feeling quite smug when suddenly he felt a piercing gaze directly on him, as sharp as a blade stabbing into his vital points.
Suddenly, his back broke out in a cold sweat. He looked up and met Lu Lingchuan's icy stare, shuddering uncontrollably. The smugness on his face was replaced by a hint of terror.
That gaze...
Lawyer Xu remained calm: "Regarding the opposing counsel's question, my side will remain silent for now. Before answering, I would like to ask him a few questions first."
The opposing lawyer had just been rattled by Lu Lingchuan's death glare. Originally composed, he was now flustered when Lawyer Xu addressed him directly.
"You... go ahead."
Lawyer Xu gripped the microphone in front of him, locking eyes with the flustered opposing counsel, speaking slowly and clearly.
"Just now you said your client was in a drunken state at the time of the incident. I believe my side's witness testimony is reasonable. If they were truly drunk, why did the two defendants resist so fiercely when they were arrested, unless they knew the identities of those apprehending them? And after the incident, they even tried to pull up their pants and run away. Would someone truly unconscious from intoxication have that many thoughts?"
"..." The opposing counsel was taken aback: "Everyone behaves differently when drunk!"
"Oh? Is that so? Since you insist on physical evidence and dismiss our witness testimony so readily, then please provide evidence to prove that they were indeed blackout drunk at the time."
"..."
"Furthermore, you groundlessly claimed that my client had depression beforehand, and demanded that we provide proof of her mental state at the time. I find such an absurd claim laughable. For you to state it so assertively, you must have evidence proving my client suffered from depression, right? If so, please present it. If not, can we assume that you fabricated these baseless claims to exploit the fact that my deceased client cannot explain herself, in order to avoid responsibility?"
"If that's the case, can we accuse you of malicious defamation?"
"..." Lawyer Xu's words left the opposing counsel speechless.
As for the first point, he indeed had no evidence to prove Lu Lingrui was depressed at the time.
He had only looked at the records and assumed she might have been under great pressure after just finishing the college entrance exam...
The opposing lawyer faltered, quickly thinking of how to respond.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he smiled again: "As for the first question raised by the plaintiff's lawyer, we certainly have a witness."
"..." Lawyer Xu's gaze sharpened.
"Our witness is naturally..." The opposing lawyer turned his head, his gaze landing on Shen Nian. "...her."
"..."
These words caused an uproar of commotion and discussion in the courtroom.
The plaintiff's witness had suddenly become the defendant's witness? That was quite a twist.
*Bang bang bang*
The judge looked stern: "Quiet."
The courtroom fell silent again, and the judge nodded at the opposing lawyer: "You may continue."
The opposing lawyer nodded and continued: "Just now, Ms. Shen recounted the events of that night. I'm sure everyone now has an understanding. So, I would like to ask Ms. Shen a few questions."
Shen Nian's face was pale as she stood there and nodded: "Go ahead."
The opposing lawyer stood up, leaning on the table with both hands, staring at Shen Nian as he launched his venomous attack.
"You said my client was in a drunken but lucid state, correct?"
Shen Nian: "Yes."
"How could you tell?" the lawyer asked.
"By their eyes and demeanor."
"Very well." The lawyer nodded. "Now I have my first question. You said my client acted with malicious intent while in a sober state. You also said they were lucid at the time, and that they intentionally blocked you and Ms. Lu Lingrui with ill intentions. Two physically strong and sober men, in a deserted area with no surveillance - if what you say is true, then why was only Ms. Lu Lingrui victimized while you escaped?!"
"Secondly, you and Ms. Lu Lingrui were good friends. Why did you not even look back when she was being harmed? If we're assigning blame, your abandonment of Ms. Lu Lingrui at that critical moment is also related to her eventual suicide!"
Seeing Shen Nian's pallid face, the lawyer knew his words had hit their mark and pressed harder.
"..." Shen Nian could barely stand, her thin frame swaying unsteadily.
Suddenly, everything sounded muffled except for a piercing "beep" ringing in her ears.
Her vision blurred, her legs went weak, and cold sweat poured from her brow as her mind grew hazy.
[Why was only Ms. Lu Lingrui victimized while you escaped?!]
[Your abandonment of Ms. Lu Lingrui at that critical moment is also related to her suicide!]
[Why?]
[Why!]
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...
Shen Nian's breathing became labored, her chest heaving rapidly as her pallid face twisted in anguish.
