companion ghost

Shen Lie sneered: "Your Excellency, the defense's request is too unreasonable. Take a step back, even if Klein is gay, so what? Is there no possibility of being raped if gay?"

Lyon argued: "Once it is proved that Mr. Reed's sexual orientation is a man, then the so-called 'rape' between him and my client is very likely to be a wishful exchange—"

"Ridiculous!" Shen Lie almost yelled angrily, but in the end he lowered his volume to prevent the jury from hearing, "Your Excellency, this is too ridiculous. There is no relationship between sexual orientation and being raped! If Klein is a Woman, will the defense still make this proposal? Will we still have this dialogue? Not at all! Because the defense knows very well that if a woman is raped, it has nothing to do with her sexual orientation, but with A man’s strength, control, and absolute gender dominance are related, so why is it different when it’s a man?” Shen Lie pointed his finger back at the jury, “I understand the defense lawyer’s strategy too well, he tried to prove to the jury that Mr. He is gay, and then imposes the malicious prejudices of people outside the circle against individual gay groups, such as promiscuity, on Mr. Reid, and once again maliciously humiliates him—but with all due respect, "Shen Lie paused word by word, "This request by the defense makes me see no use other than biasing the jury!"

After speaking to Judge Donovan, Shen Lie turned his head and glared at Leon angrily: "Even for someone like you, this trick is a bit too despicable."

"Your Honor—" Lyon was trying to continue his argument, but was interrupted by Judge Donovan.

"Prosecutor, personal attacks are unnecessary and very rude," Judge Donovan first criticized Shen Lie's last inappropriate comment, and then said, "But I agree with the prosecution's point that cross-examination again will only Prejudicing the jury against the witnesses is contrary to our original intent, so the defense request is dismissed and you can go back to your seats."

Shen Lie hooked the corners of his lips, without even looking at Leon again, he turned around and strode back to his seat, and said loudly: "The prosecution requests to call the last witness."

"Doctor Cornis," Shen Lie asked Ning Zhou who was sitting on the witness stand, "What is your relationship with Klein Reid?"

"We are friends," Ning Zhou smiled, "We met at a reception before."

"You must have a good relationship," Shen Lie said, "otherwise, Mr. Reid would not have asked you to help instead of going to the hospital the day after he was raped."

"That's right, we hit it off very well." Ning Zhou said, "I can understand his approach. After all, as a man, he has experienced this kind of thing, and his self-esteem has been trampled under his feet. It is impossible to go to a public place like a hospital to accept it. treat."

"Then, judging by your knowledge as a professional doctor," Shen Lie asked about the topic, "Is there a slight possibility that Mr. Rhett's injury was caused by a 'rough sex' of 'whatever you want' of?"

"Impossible, there is no possibility at all." Ning Zhou was categorical, "That kind of injury, that kind of blood volume, and Klein's mental and physical state are absolutely impossible because of a so-called 'you love me' 'Rough sex'! Nobody enjoys that either!"

Shen Lie nodded in satisfaction and started the next question: "Mr. Reid said that you were the first to discover the three thousand dollars left to him by the defendant Vincent Osterley, right?"

"Yes," Ning Zhou said, "I was very puzzled why he put a thick stack of cash on the bedside. He was also surprised, and then realized that the defendant put it there."

"Has he made it clear to you that he doesn't want the money?"

"Yes. His reaction at the time was extremely disgusting. It was a sense of anger that his dignity was obviously trampled on. He also made it clear that he would never keep the money."

"The last question," Shen Lie asked, "Based on what you know about Klein, is he the kind of person who would trade himself for his future?"

"Absolutely not," Ning Zhou was very clear, "Klein is the most down-to-earth person I have ever met, and he will not take this so-called 'shortcut'."

"Thank you." After Shen Lie finished asking the question, he sat back in his seat. Leon stood up and began to ask questions: "Hello, Doctor Konis."

"Hello." Ning Zhou said lightly.

It's really hard for him to have a good impression of this person.

"Is Konis your last name?" Leon asked a seemingly irrelevant question.

Shen Lie immediately said: "Objection! Your Excellency, it's irrelevant."

Without waiting for Judge Donovan to express his attitude, Lyon said: "Your Honor, you will see the relevance of my question in a moment."

"I allow, the objection is invalid," Judge Donovan's permission is conditional, "I will give you appropriate tolerance, but please show your relevance within three questions."

"Okay, Your Excellency." With the judge's permission, Leon then asked Ning Zhou, "Doctor Konis, are you a mixed race?"

Ning Zhou frowned, not quite understanding what he wanted to ask: "Yes, Chinese and American mixed race, so what?"

"So as far as I know, you have a Chinese surname, don't you? It seems to be Ning?"

"Yes."

Shen Lie narrowed his eyes slightly, he already guessed what Leon was going to ask.

"It happens to have the same surname as the psychiatrist who provided Klein with psychological counseling and was assigned to the Homicide Division of the Manhattan Branch of the New York Police Department—"

"I know what you want to express," Ning Zhou interrupted him bluntly, "He is my younger brother."

"Such a coincidence?" Leon pretended to be surprised, "It seems that the world is so small, so small that the important witnesses in a so-called rape case belong to one family."

"It's not a coincidence," Ning Zhou said coldly, "I introduced Klein to my brother for psychological counseling, and as far as I know, my brother didn't enter the homicide unit until three months later. , he has nothing to do with the case."

Ning Yuan, who was sitting in the spectator seat, touched his nose guiltily. In fact, there is no brother. I have been here for a year.

Leon shrugged. "Who knows. Also," he asked the next obnoxious question, "Dr. Koenig, do you like rough sex?"

Ning Zhou frowned: "I don't like it."

"So have you ever tried?"

"……No."

Shen Lie objected loudly: "Your Excellency, is this harassment of witnesses?"

"I'm done asking," Leon smiled. "One last thing, how do you know that others don't like something you don't like and haven't tried?"

Ning Zhou's lips parted slightly, and he was shocked. He really didn't expect such a misinterpreted question.He and Shen Lie looked at each other, and Shen Lie shook his head slightly at him.

After coming out of the court, in the corridor at the entrance of the third court, Lyon stopped Shen Lie: "Aren't you considering a plea deal?"

Shen Lie folded his arms around his chest, raised his chin slightly: "What's your condition?"

Leon switched the briefcase from his left hand to his right: "Sexual harassment, no jail time, voluntary labor in the community, and my client promises to give Mr. Rhett a generous compensation—"

"Shut up," Shen Lie said with amused hearing, "it's not even a felony, what are you dreaming about? I don't think there is any need for us to communicate at all. Let's see each other in court."

"Listen to me," Leon smiled confidently, "Once even one person on the jury has some unknown 'hobby', you will be in danger. In today's society, who is even a little You don't even have any 'little fetishes'? You've already lost to my client twice, the district attorney's office is staring at you, the news media is staring at you, trust me, you don't want to lose a third time." He stepped forward He took a step forward and said in a low voice, "This is a big gamble, and you have too few chips. If I were you, I wouldn't gamble any more."