Chapter 65: The trial begins

"Mister Ruan, what do you have to say about the charges against you!?" A reporter asked when Wei Jun was brought out of the police car on the court's stairs.

"Is it true that you murdered fourteen people?!" Another one asked.

"There are also allegations of you attacking and disfiguring Miss Na Tong, is that true?!" Another one in the crowd asked.

Wei Jun just kept his gaze straight with his face still injured slightly and his arm still in a cast. Wei Jun remained quiet for the last three days even though many interrogations were held using many insinuations but he simply remained quiet.

He knew what the result of his demand was and he was offered many more things but none of them appealed to him. Even the mayor himself gave him a deal of immunity and a reduced sentence but Wei Jun didn't bat an eye, quite literally.

And now, the fateful day had arrived. The police had given up on cutting a deal with Wei Jun and Chief Tao had already held a conference presenting solid evidence of Wei Jun's murders and calmed the public by saying that it was another plot of the criminal. If only he knew he dug an even deeper pit for himself.

"Are you sure this will work?" Xiang Fan asked.

"Nope. That's why you need to be at your best." Wei Jun replied, increasing the pressure on Xiang Fan than it already was.

"I can only try." Xiang Fan replied. Wei Jun and the company were then brought for inspection after which, they were taken to the courtroom. The judge, someone Wei Jun was familiar with, Judge Li Yong.

"All rise!" The concierge announced the entrance of the judge and everyone stood up. Wei Jun followed through but he also noticed the small smile on the judge's face. Wei Jun smiled when he noticed the smile of triumph but he simply let the man have the final days of glory. After all, a lot of suffering was ahead of the fat man and Wei Jun wasn't cruel enough to not take a little mercy on the man.

Soon afterward, the jurors were brought in who were selected two days prior. Wei Jun had no involvement with it but he knew who did and they were going down too because if he were to tamper with the jury, his case would come back invalid.

"Begin your cases. Represent your opening statements." Judge Yong said. The D.A. attorney extended his hand gesturing Xiang Fan to go first who simply said, "Please, ladies first." Although the man wasn't a lady, he still took the insult and stood up with a scoff.

He made his way to the front of the jurors and began, "Murder. A crime that even god doesn't forgive yet here is a man who is trying to deny the inevitable. Going against god and claiming to be innocent.

I am confident that this case won't go any further than today and that by the end of the day, I will present you a guilty man worthy of the punishment, set by the god and our just legal system." Ho Son, the D.A. attorney spoke a few more things that didn't matter because the jury was already bought so it didn't matter what he said.

The same was the case for Xiang Fan who glanced at Wei Jun for one last assurance who simply nodded and Xiang Fan just stood up after a lengthy sigh. He made his way to the jury stand and began, "Quite a compelling speech, our dear people's representative has delivered.

But worry not, an innocent man is innocent and even god cannot change that outcome let alone a washed-up prosecutor and the so-called legal system."

When Xiang Fan said legal system, he glanced at Judge Yong which made the man a little uncomfortable after all, he had involvement with the case and with his experience, he knew what that gesture could mean.

Still, Judge Yong chose to ignore that and commented with a laugh, "Quite a compelling argument yourself, Mister Fan." After all, Xiang Fan hadn't just mentioned the D.A. prosecutor or just one or two laws but the entire D.A. and the entire legal system. There was bound to be a blowback.

"I stand by my words, your honor." Xiang Fan said before he returned to his seat.

"I see. Very well, call your witness, Mister Son." Judge Yong began with the people's representative because he knew that although the jury was bought, the people on the outside watching through the camera weren't. Although it was forbidden to bring media into the courtroom, it was allowed during special cases.

In this case, they had done that themselves because they wanted Wei Jun's public opinion to plummet. And for that, the earlier they represent all the evidence, the better.

"The People would like to call Detective Bong Len to the stand." Ho Son began with his first witness.

"I would have liked to begin with name and credentials but that won't be necessary so let me begin with the most basic question, do you think that the defendant is involved in fourteen murders of two different sites, or not?" Ho Son threw it big by asking that question and it wasn't even about convincing the jury.

"As I have stated in my report, the earlier detective on this case was lenient or bought off, no one can say for sure but he missed the obvious evidence on the crime scene. Many of the defendant's prints were found at the scene and even the murder weapon that matched the bullet description was found a few blocks away from the crime scene." Bong Len began with the most obvious evidence.

"Your honor, the evidence present in the discovery can corroborate the witness's testimony." Ho Son said before he turned to Bong Len and asked, "Now, the defendant claims that he is being framed. What is your expert opinion on that?"

"In my opinion, the defendant can only be lying. There is irrefutable evidence of his involvement and that is all the truth the people need." Bong Len stated.

"Obj--" Xiang Fan was about to object to speculation but Wei Jun slightly coughed which was his cue to stand down.

"Is there a problem, Mister Fan?" Judge Yong asked to which Xiang Fan could only reply while shaking his head, "No, your honor. There's none."

"Very well. Are you done, Mister Son?" Judge Yong asked Ho Son who nodded and said, "Yes, I am your honor."

Judge Yong nodded, turned to Xiang Fan, and said, "You may follow up, Mister Fan."

"I have no questions for this witness, your honor" Judge Yong was a little taken aback and the ominous feeling from before welled up again but he suppressed it and replied, "Very well. Call your next witness then, Mister Son."

"The People would like to call the lead forensics of this case, Ren Mu, to the stand." Ho Son called for the next witness.

"Can you tell me your area of expertise?" Ho Son said to the forensic scientist who replied, "I work for the Yuan Yin police force. I've been a lab assistant for five years now and my area of expertise is gunpowder residue and criminal evidence."

"Very well, can you tell me that aside from fingerprints, how was the defendant's involvement found?" Ho Son asked.

"When we tested him for GSR, his test results came positive and the results matched with the weapons used for murder." Ren Mu testified.

"GSR?" Ho Son repeated for the elaboration of this term.

"It stands for Gun Shot Residue found on someone's hand after they use it. Every gun leaves it on the victim and since every trace of the gunpowder is different, it is possible to find out the culprit as long as the gun is registered." Ren Mu explained.

"I see. That's it, your honor." Ho Song said to Judge Yong who turned to Xiang Fan for a follow-up but he again shook his head and said, "I have no questions for this witness, your honor."

Ho Son smiled and said, "It seems you have given up already. I expected a little fight at least."

Many in the courtroom shared the same view except for one person. Judge Yong's feeling on this was increasing by the second. He knew there was something but he couldn't tell what but what he did know was that one single mistake and it was done so he determined himself to be extra attentive to any evidence provided by the defense.

"Then it is your turn to call a witness, Mister Fan." Judge Yong said.

Xiang Fan turned to look at Wei Jun who nodded and with no other choice, Xiang Fan couldn't help but call his next witness. Although the list of the witnesses was in the judge's possession, he wasn't worried about that. He was worried about the question he would have to ask his next few witnesses.

"The defense would like to call Detective Zhao Hui to the stand." Xiang Fan stood up and announced which induced a chuckle from his rival, Ho Son because it was already announced that Zhao Hui had missed the evidence yet the defense was still calling him. This case was as good as lost for the defense.

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