Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Zhang Wei’s Trump Card
Liang Shuqi heard this. He immediately stood up and repeated Shen Dao’s instructions verbatim. His defense centered on the argument that his actions were not a deliberate attempt to spread the virus but were simply intended to disgust the other party. The goal was to steer the case towards a charge of negligent poisoning.
"Your Honor, although I had a cold at the time, I did not intend to transmit the cold to Qin Mu when I spat," he stated. "He gave me a bad review, which infuriated me. It was only after seeing the online comments that I reacted by spitting."
At the defense attorneys’ table, Zhang Wei watched his client, feeling even more nervous than during his own first court appearance as a lawyer. Only upon seeing Liang Shuqi’s "excellent performance" did he let out a sigh of relief, his expression visibly easing.
This was the most obedient defendant he had ever represented. His previous clients, like Yang Minghui, Lin Zhen, and Gao Feng... if they hadn’t acted so recklessly, they wouldn’t have received such severe sentences. If every defendant were this cooperative, his efficiency in securing reduced sentences would be greatly enhanced.
BANG—
Above the courtroom, after Liang Shuqi finished his defense, Judge Zhou Quanmin struck the gavel. He analyzed, "The current focal point of contention in this case is whether the act of spitting was negligent or intentional."
Spitting, as a voluntary act, is inherently intentional. But the intent to spread a virus... inferring that intent is difficult, and this was the most crucial point of Zhang Wei’s defense.
"Please present evidence, prosecutor," the judge then said, looking towards the prosecutors at the plaintiff’s table.
The prosecutor immediately stood up. He submitted all the evidence collected by Shen Dao and his team, attempting to prove Liang Shuqi had spat intentionally.
"The defendant, knowing he had a cold, still spat. His motive is obvious: to transmit the cold virus to the victim."
Zhou Quanmin listened and pondered briefly before looking at Liang Shuqi’s side. He asked, "Does the defense have any objections?"
Zhang Wei then promptly stood up, stating his defense arguments. "Everyone, try to put yourselves in my client’s shoes. After receiving a bad review, he was extremely angry and acted irrationally. His primary goal was retaliation and to disgust the other party."
"If he truly wanted to spread a virus and make the other party sick, that would be quite childish. In that scenario, he could have easily added laxatives, feces, urine, or other substances to the takeout..."
In the courtroom, Zhang Wei finally seized his opportunity, speaking eloquently and making an impassioned plea. He brought all his accumulated knowledge and experience to bear.
Meanwhile, Qin Mu sat at the plaintiff’s table. Watching Zhang Wei, he realized for the first time the true strength of his opponent. Clearly... this was an adversary severely hampered by his own team! Zhang Wei had indeed researched sentence reduction very thoroughly.
If things continued at this pace, Liang Shuqi would most likely be convicted of negligent poisoning and sentenced to three years of imprisonment.
However, their prosecutor seemed to have anticipated this situation. Immediately after Zhang Wei’s criminal defense arguments, he stood up and countered, "On the 21st of this month, after receiving a bad review for a delivery order, the defendant, Liang Shuqi, posted a video."
"This video quickly went viral online, accumulating six million views."
"In the comments section below the video, he was instigated by netizens who informed him that he could take revenge on the plaintiff by spitting, thus triggering Liang Shuqi’s criminal motive."
"As an adult with independent criminal responsibility, upon learning of this method of revenge, he would certainly reflect on the consequences of his act of spitting."
"Yet, the defendant, Liang Shuqi, knowing he had a cold and that his phlegm contained the cold virus, still allowed this to happen. Based on an assessment of his motive and criminal psychology, he must have hoped the other party would consume the takeout."
"There is an experiential causal link between the established facts and the presumed facts. Therefore, it can be presumed that Liang Shuqi hoped the other party would eat the takeout and contract his cold. The defendant’s claims cannot simply be taken at face value."
"We recommend sentencing the defendant to five years imprisonment and ordering him to compensate the plaintiff for damages."
The prosecutor’s rebuttal was equally forceful and clear. He presented the basis for a statutory presumption of fact, and both sides engaged in a fierce debate over this pivotal issue.
"Qin Mu, these two criminal lawyers are quite formidable; their skill level is incredibly high," Wang Dachui whispered from the plaintiff’s bench. Listening to the intense arguments from both sides, he couldn’t help but swallow hard. He was just a civil lawyer who had gotten involved... It really made him feel out of his depth.
Qin Mu nodded in agreement. The public prosecutor clearly had experience with criminal indictments and quickly disrupted Zhang Wei’s defensive rhythm, turning the situation around.
Zhang Wei, unwilling to show weakness, continued to argue the distinction between negligence and intent. Both sides stuck to their respective arguments, each appearing quite reasonable for the moment. They found themselves at a temporary stalemate.
In the spectator gallery, elderly attendees like Zhang Qingyuan, Li Weiguo, and Song Tiancheng were utterly confused, exchanging bewildered glances.
"What on earth are they talking about? I can’t understand a single word! Can’t they just issue a verdict?"
"We came to see a sentencing, why does it sound like a tongue twister?"
"At this rate, when will they ever reach a verdict?"
"Mr. Li’s case last time was much more straightforward—the defendant didn’t even show up, and the verdict was delivered super quickly..."
The crowd, having come for the spectacle, whispered among themselves in hushed tones, constantly complaining. This drew several warnings from the court bailiffs.
「Two hours later.」
BANG—
Judge Zhou Quanmin struck the gavel, announcing a thirty-minute recess.
「During the recess.」
From the defendant’s bench, Liang Shuqi quickly turned to his defense attorney, Lawyer Zhang, and anxiously asked, "What’s the situation now?"
The two sides had just engaged in a fierce exchange, but he was somewhat bewildered and hadn’t understood the state of play.
Zhang Wei, however, stood tall and confident, saying assertively, "Don’t worry, I still have a trump card. As long as you don’t cause any trouble, we can definitely get a lighter sentence. It won’t exceed four years!"
Liang Shuqi was speechless. He swallowed hard, his expression a mixture of complicated emotions. Four years was still a long time. However, the prosecutor had recommended five years! Compared to that, it was already a reduction of one year. He didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad.
「Half an hour later.」
BANG—
The gavel sounded, and the trial resumed.
Zhou Quanmin, along with the full panel of the collegial bench, returned to the courtroom after deliberating on the case.
"The court debate will now continue. The public prosecutor may speak first," Judge Zhou Quanmin announced.
At the plaintiff’s table, the prosecutor beside Qin Mu stood up again. He reiterated the facts of the crime, endeavoring to attribute them as much as possible to a motive of intentional poisoning, and presented evidence for numerous presumed facts.
After the prosecutor finished speaking, Zhang Wei stood up and addressed the judge, "Regarding my client’s motive for the alleged poisoning, I have already stated it very clearly."
"My client was incited by online commenters, which spontaneously gave rise to the motive of retaliating against and disgusting the other party, leading him to commit the act."
"It was not his intention to cause the other party to contract a cold."
"Furthermore, from a procedural standpoint, he did not initially possess such a motive and should therefore be considered an accessory to the crime of poisoning. According to the provisions of our nation’s criminal law, an accessory should receive a mitigated or lighter punishment!"
Following that, he presented a new angle for the defense.