Escape the Library

【Not Guilty Defense-14】

At 10 a.m. the next day, the Liu Jiajia beach poisoning case was publicly heard in the Beishan City People's Court.

Yue Xingwen and his teammates went to the court early in the morning. Because of the Liu Jiajia case, Zhu Xiaoting was not the defendant, but a witness. They did not need to appear in court to defend Zhu Xiaoting, but could only sit in the audience and listen.

To observe the trial, perhaps the library gave them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the court in advance.

This group of college students, Yue Xingwen and the others, came to the court for the first time. Looking at the solemn and solemn court environment, everyone couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Even Lan Yarong, who had been to the court several times with her teacher, couldn't help it. To be truly calm, this is the first time she has independently represented a case. Before, she only needed to follow the teacher to help.

At 10:00 sharp, Liu Jiajia's case opened on time.

The prosecutor appointed by the procuratorate is a young and capable woman. She introduced the whole story of Liu Jiajia's case, and listed a series of evidences in a coherent manner.

The evidence found by the police is more than Yue Xingwen and the others.

"Potassium cyanide, a highly toxic substance, was detected in Liu Jiajia's body. The forensic doctor confirmed that Liu Jiajia's real cause of death was potassium cyanide poisoning. The following is Liu Jiajia's death cause identification certificate. The source of potassium cyanide is the chemical experiment of Beishan University. Next, the video testimony of Prof. Lin Ping from the Department of Chemistry will be played."

Professor Lin said that the total loss of potassium cyanide stored in the laboratory was 10 grams. Because he had just checked the medicine cabinet on October 17, re-weighed the controlled drugs, checked the data, and locked the medicine cabinet, then, cyanide The potassium chloride must have been lost between October 17th and October 25th (the day before the incident).

"We retrieved the list of classes in the Department of Chemistry who did experiments from October 17th to October 25th. Only Class 1 and Class 2 of the Applied Chemistry major arranged experiments this week. After visiting the class members, we came to the conclusion - Chen Kaiming , Lin Xuefei and Lin Xuefei once stayed to clean up after the experiment on October 20. The two were in a relationship. Chen Kaiming said that his girlfriend Lin Xuefei accidentally lost the key while on duty, so he had to hurry and go to the school to get the key. At that time, only Lin Xuefei was the only one. People stay in the lab."

"After questioning Lin Xuefei, she confessed to the crime of stealing potassium cyanide..."

This result was also expected by Yuexingwen.

In the beach case, the police found the source of the poison. After Chen Kaiming learned of the incident, he did not cover up his girlfriend, but directly confessed the fact that she was left alone in the laboratory. Lin Xuefei couldn't make excuses, and she simply confessed under police interrogation.

The presiding judge asked the defendant Lin Xuefei to state the facts of the crime.

Lin Xuefei cried out of breath in the courtroom, choked up and explained the reason to the judge——

It turned out that Chen Kaiming had a crush on Liu Jiajia for many years, and always regarded Liu Jiajia as a goddess. After being with Lin Xuefei, he still couldn't let go of Liu Jiajia, and even accidentally called Liu Jiajia's name when making out with his girlfriend. Lin Xuefei has been in love with Chen Kaiming for many years, and minds that Chen Kaiming has Bai Yueguang in her heart. She transferred her hatred to Bai Yueguang, who is better and more beautiful than herself. After quarreling with Chen Kaiming, she murdered Liu Jia.

But Liu Jiajia didn't know anything about all this.

As Liu Jiajia's best friend, Zhu Xiaoting's eyes turned red when she heard the truth. She was so emotional, she clenched her fists tightly. If her hands were not handcuffed, she would almost smash Lin Xuefei's face when she looked so angry. .

The judge convicted Lin Xuefei of intentional homicide on the spot and sentenced her to death.

After walking out of the court, Zhu Xiaoting's face was ugly.

Lan Yarong and Yue Xingwen glanced at each other, and immediately found a way to meet her and soothe her mood: "Now let go of your mind, don't think about Liu Jiajia, the murderer of Jiajia has been punished. There are more important cases in the afternoon, and we must clear your name. If you are convicted of murder, you will also be sentenced to death!"

Thinking of Lin Xuefei's collapsed expression when she was sentenced to death and almost unable to walk, Zhu Xiaoting shuddered and nodded immediately and said, "I understand, I won't think about Jiajia anymore, I have to plan for myself!"

Yue Xingwen said warmly: "Before the trial, read the manuscript we gave you again. If you are nervous and forget your words, close your eyes, carefully recall the day's experience, and describe the process as truthfully as possible."

Zhu Xiaoting took a deep breath and said seriously to the two of them, "Thank you, you've worked hard."

After Zhu Xiaoting was taken away, Yue Xingwen and his party ordered a quick snack nearby, took the time to check the court defense process and prepared questions, and confirmed that all the witnesses were present.

Time passed minute by minute, and it was almost two o'clock in the afternoon.

Yue Xingwen, Lan Yarong, and Lin Manluo packed up the documents and walked into the court room side by side.

The other teammates sat in the gallery ahead of time. Although they could not directly participate in the defense, everyone did their best for today, especially Jiang Pingce, Ke Shaobin and Xin Yan. sleep.

Everyone's spirits are highly tense.

Yue Xingwen looked relaxed, but he was actually beating drums in his heart.

He never dreamed before that one day, he would stand in court and defend a girl that she had never killed anyone! The library is crazy to put such a heavy burden on the shoulders of a group of students.

Lan Yarong looked at Yue Xingwen's serious face and asked, "Are you nervous?"

Yue Xingwen coughed lightly: "A little bit."

Lan Yarong said: "Last year's college debate competition, I also went to the scene to watch. Your speech was very exciting. You were not stage fright at all in the auditorium with thousands of people. I even applauded you from the audience. Let it be a debate."

She smiled and encouraged Yue Xingwen: "Believe in yourself and in our team."

Looking at Senior Sister Shang's gentle gaze, Yue Xingwen's mood suddenly calmed down: "That's right. Although there are only a few of us who can sit on the lawyer's seat, there are teammates behind us. This is the result of everyone's efforts!"

Lan Yarong nodded: "So, we can't let everyone down."

Lin Manluo stretched out her hand: "Come on!"

Yue Xingwen and Lan Yarong also extended their hands together, and the three cheered on each other.

With the last few minutes left before the court session, the three of them drank some water to moisten their throats. They didn't walk into the courtroom together until the official court hearing was announced and sat in the seat of the defendant's defense attorney.

There were only two defense lawyers who could speak. Lan Yarong was sitting on the left, Yue Xingwen was on the right, and Lin Manluo was sitting in the first row as an assistant to organize documents.

The court clerk said: "Please presiding judge and members of the collegial panel to enter the court."

A group of people walked into the court and took their seats on the highest seats.

The presiding judge sitting in the middle is a 50-year-old woman with gray hair, but she is full of energy. Her calm eyes swept across the audience and whispered, "Silence."

With her voice, the audience instantly became silent.

The presiding judge said: "The 703 dormitory murder case is officially open, and the defendant Zhu Xiaoting is summoned to appear in court."

Zhu Xiaoting was escorted to the court and stood in the dock. She glanced at the positions of Yue Xingwen and Lan Yarong, seemed to have some courage, and stood up straight in the dock.

The presiding judge asked: "The defendant, Zhu Xiaoting, female, 22 years old, senior student at the School of Translation and Interpretation of Beishan University, currently lives in Room 703, Building 6, Female Dormitory, Beishan University. Is the above information accurate?"

Zhu Xiaoting nodded: "Accurate."

"The list of trial members of this court will be announced below..." The presiding judge read a series of names, and then looked at Zhu Xiaoting: "The parties have the right to apply for recusal of members of the collegial panel, prosecutors, and appraisal personnel. Do you need to apply for recusal?"

After hesitating for a few seconds, Zhu Xiaoting said seriously, "No need."

An application for recusal is generally a request to withdraw the trial member from the trial when there are relatives of the plaintiff or the defendant or other relationships among the trial members of the court, which may affect the correct handling of the case.

The members of this court trial are all right, and the presiding judge is only making routine questions.

The presiding judge continued: "Zhu Xiaoting, as a defendant, you still enjoy the legitimate rights and interests of citizens such as defense and litigation. Is it clear?"

Zhu Xiaoting nodded.

The presiding judge said: "Next, ask the public prosecutor to read out the indictment."

The prosecutor sent by the procuratorate this time is a handsome young man with glasses and a straight face, and the tone of his statement is like a speech, with a full sense of justice.

He finished reading Zhu Xiaoting's basic information first, and then began to read out the source of the case——

"The murder of the defendant Zhu Xiaoting was investigated by the Binjiang District Public Security Bureau of Beishan City, and the Binjiang District Procuratorate of Beishan City initiated a public prosecution in the People's Court."

"At 4:30 in the morning of October 26, 2021, Zhu Xiaoting took the Didi Express from Binjiang Bay to Beishan University, arrived at the school gate at 5:10, and took the elevator on the west side of Building 6 to 703 Dormitory at 5:20. The friend Xie Xiangqin had a dispute, picked up the fruit knife bought in the school supermarket, and stabbed Xie Xiangqin's heart aorta, causing Xie Xiangqin to lose too much blood and die."

"Defendant Zhu Xiaoting has a crush on Zou Yijia, a third-year boy from the Translation College, who is Xie Xiangqin's official boyfriend; in addition, Zhu Xiaoting and Xie Xiangqin have been at odds for a long time, and they have had many disputes and have a clear motive for murder."

"The murder weapon was seized by the public security organs on the spot. After identification, it was found that only Zhu Xiaoting's fingerprints were on the murder weapon. After investigating the scene, it was found that there were only the footprints of Xie Xiangqin and Zhu Xiaoting in the dormitory that day, and there was no third party present. Traces; roommate Mao Yue returned to the dormitory and witnessed the scene of Zhu Xiaoting holding the murder weapon..."

The evidence listed one by one made Zhu Xiaoting's face pale. Especially the footprints, she couldn't figure it out. There was already a lot of blood on the ground at that time. How could the murderer not leave any fingerprints and footprints?

"Defendant Zhu Xiaoting has a clear motive for the crime, with all witnesses and physical evidence, and the evidence is conclusive and sufficient to determine the facts of the crime. This court believes that Zhu Xiaoting's murder with a knife has caused extremely bad social impact and violated Article 1 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China. Article 230 For the crime of intentional homicide, the court shall give a heavier punishment in accordance with the law!"

The audience was silent.

The prosecutor's stern rebuke echoed throughout the courtroom. The voice sounded like thunder in her ears. Zhu Xiaoting's face was bloodless, and she seemed to have been frightened by the situation.