Chapter 49 - 41: The Prosecution Amends the Indictment

November 15th.

At nine in the morning, a prison transport vehicle slowly drove from the detention center into the Lusen City Intermediate People’s Court, disappearing from view after turning into a dedicated lane.

Several judges awaited the final hour.

...

Twelve noon.

At the Lusen City People’s Procuratorate, several prosecutors changed into black suits, red ties fixed at their collars. Their expressions were exceptionally grim, and the documents in their hands were highly confidential.

Meanwhile, inside Yangteng Law Firm.

The lawyer, Chen Wei, wore a dark, suppressed expression. Having been relegated to a mere backdrop in the media frenzy for days on end, he was in an extremely foul mood.

He organized his thoughts for the coming relentless assault, got into his car with a cold smile, and headed for the courthouse.

At the same time.

Jinmao Law Firm.

Xu De, dressed in a suit, wore a placid expression, as if he weren’t about to face down a ferocious beast.

He casually hailed a taxi and said to the driver:

"The Intermediate Court, please."

...

1:30 PM.

The Lusen City press corps, which had been quiet for some time, began to stir. Female reporters touched up their makeup, male reporters straightened their clothes, and photographers double-checked their equipment.

2:00 PM.

Hundreds of people filed into Courtroom No. 1 of the Intermediate People’s Court, all jockeying for a good seat.

The reporter, Zhang Xia, was among them. This time, however, she was seated in the front row, right next to the trial area.

Zhang Xia glanced back at the gallery.

The moment she turned, a sea of heads flooded her vision—an overwhelming, almost oppressive sight.

’There are even more people here than for the first hearing!’

Zhang Xia noted inwardly. She turned back to the trial area, her eyes fixed on the empty chairs, and a sudden wave of nervousness washed over her.

After the public furor following the verdict of the first trial...

Clearly, it had drawn an even larger crowd!

The four hundred-plus seats were completely insufficient; the overflow of people had to stand and watch from the back, yet none showed any sign of leaving.

But the size of the crowd had no direct bearing on the outcome of the case.

Life or death, the future direction of the case... it all came down to today!

Beside Zhang Xia, a man looked at the trial area, which was unnaturally still, like a painting. A confused expression crossed his face.

"It’s two-thirty," he muttered. "When are they going to get here?"

This man was none other than Wang Chao.

That’s right, Wang Chao was here. As a prospective partner in the law firm, he needed to see for himself if its leader was truly capable.

"Shh~"

Lin Yue, seated beside him, raised a finger to her lips in a "hush" gesture. But before she could even complete the motion...

Her gaze suddenly fixed on the main door beside the trial area. Her heart skipped a beat, and her expression instantly grew solemn.

"They’re here!"

The instant the words left her mouth...

"CREAK~"

The sound of a large door being pushed open echoed throughout Courtroom No. 1, reaching every ear.

Suddenly.

The buzzing courtroom fell abruptly silent. Everyone held their breath, their eyes locked on the trial area.

At a side door to the trial area.

Several men in professional suits with bright red ties appeared in the doorway.

Prosecutor Hu Guang raised his head, his emotionless eyes scanning the sea of dark eyes—hundreds of pairs—staring back at him from the gallery.

Then, he looked away.

"CLICK-CLACK..."

The sound of leather shoes on the floor.

As everyone watched, the three prosecutors walked to the prosecution table, followed by the plaintiffs, Li Youcai and Liu Cui.

They were joined by Chen Wei, the attorney for the plaintiff.

They all took their seats.

’The prosecution is here.’

A thought flashed through everyone’s minds, but before they could dwell on it...

The next moment, the door near the defense table opened, and a solitary figure appeared.

Xu De glanced at the prosecution, his expression otherwise unchanging, and walked to the defense table.

Just like last time, he was all alone, looking utterly outnumbered.

’The defense is here... and just like last time, he’s alone,’ Zhang Xia thought.

After Xu De, the defendant, Wang Qiang, was brought into the courtroom.

He looked the same as last time: gaunt, dressed in a yellow prison uniform, his hands cuffed. He was led in by two bailiffs and seated in the defendant’s chair, front and center.

The crowd watched in silence, their minds racing with speculation.

After a moment.

The court clerk’s voice suddenly cut through the silence, and the words "All rise" rang in everyone’s ears.

Dressed in their judicial robes, Zhang Bingxin, Sun Dong, and Liu Jianguo slowly entered the courtroom.

Their movements were economical, their expressions grim, their gazes solemn. They exuded a tangible, almost oppressive, air of authority.

"TAP... TAP... TAP..."

The sound of their footsteps approached the bench.

"SCRAPE."

Zhang Bingxin took his seat at the center of the raised dais, the Presiding Judge’s chair. A gavel lay on the bench before him.

He looked up, glancing from one side to the other. Confirming that both parties were ready, he reached out, grasped the gavel, and raised it high.

"CRACK!"

The sharp crack of the gavel made everyone flinch, as if the blow had landed on their own hearts.

The next moment,

Zhang Bingxin rose to his feet, his sonorous, solemn voice echoing through the courtroom.

"This case was initiated by the public prosecutor, the Lusen City People’s Procuratorate. The prosecution has since amended the charges..."

Here, he paused briefly before his voice rang out again.

"The scope of this hearing shall cover the defendant’s alleged crimes of excessive self-defense and intentional injury resulting in death..."

"The case was brought before this court on October 10, 2002. In accordance with the relevant laws, the First Criminal Tribunal of the Lusen City Intermediate People’s Court will now conduct a public hearing."

"I, Judge Zhang Bingxin, shall serve as Presiding Judge for this case, joined by Judge Liu Jianguo and Judge Sun Dong..."

"And now, I declare..."

As he spoke, a steely resolve entered his voice as he uttered four words:

"Court is in session!"

The trial... had begun!

And this second hearing was already different from the first.

"The prosecution revised the indictment!?"

"They changed the charge from intentional homicide to excessive self-defense and intentional injury resulting in death..."

"Tsk, seems the defense attorney made quite an impression on them last time. They actually changed the indictment..."

"..."

The hearing had barely been declared open, and a shock was already running through the gallery.

The indictment had been changed!

What did this mean?

It meant the prosecution’s initial charge had been completely refuted!

And to think, the defense attorney had managed to do this without presenting a single piece of substantive evidence last time...

’I wonder what he has up his sleeve this time...’ Zhang Xia thought, staring at Xu De. Her hands clenched as her gaze shifted to the defendant’s seat, resting on Wang Qiang’s gaunt back.

The commotion from the gallery was not loud.

It didn’t reach the bench or disrupt the proceedings, and Zhang Bingxin’s face remained like stone, completely expressionless.

He turned to face the prosecution.

"The prosecution may now present the indictment."

As the judge finished speaking, Prosecutor Hu Guang rose to his feet, a document in hand, his lips slightly parted.

"Your Honor, members of the tribunal, I am Public Prosecutor Hu Guang."

"The defendant, Wang Qiang, age 52, was born on April 17, 1950. He was arrested on October 2, 2002."

"Upon further investigation by our office, we are now amending the indictment. The defendant, Wang Qiang, acted while in a state of extreme emotional distress after discovering that his daughter, Wang Mei, had been illegally detained, imprisoned, and raped by the deceased. In the process of defending her, he entered into a conflict that resulted in the death of the other party."

"In summary, the defendant Wang Qiang’s actions constitute intentional injury resulting in death, with the circumstances indicating excessive self-defense."

"His actions are in violation of Article 20 and Article 233 of the Criminal Law, and thus constitute..."

Here, Hu Guang paused. His gaze sharpened, and he declared:

"Excessive self-defense and the crime of intentional injury!"

"The facts of the defendant’s crime are clear, and the evidence is reliable and sufficient."

"Our office hereby files this public prosecution and requests that the court sentence the defendant in accordance with the law!"