The trial started at nine o'clock in the morning and was located in the Criminal Court of Jiangbei Intermediate People's Court. The presiding judge and the judges were wearing legal robes and sitting in the courtroom. The prosecutor was wearing a navy blue uniform with a badge on his chest. There were two lawyers in suits and leather shoes.
The heavily armed bailiff brought Liu Ziguang up, put him in the dock, and then stood behind him. His tall and majestic figure made the prisoner dressed in an orange detention center vest look extremely wretched.
The auditorium was empty, with only a few people sitting in the front row. The victim's family members came the most, including Mai Kangmei, Chen Xuanwu, his mother and son, some relatives and friends of the Chen family, and hired lawyers, as well as a reporter from Jiangbei Legal News.
There are also Xu Jiyuan and his two agents, as well as some staff from related departments.
The trial started on time. After the routine procedure, the prosecutor made a speech and presented various evidences. The evidence in this case was provided by the provincial department. The procuratorate staff just followed the script. The 10,000-word indictment proved Chen Runing with iron-clad facts.
It was indeed Liu Ziguang who killed him.
After the prosecution finished its argument, the presiding judge signaled the defense lawyer to speak.
Hou Zhenye was dressed very formally today, with a suit and tie and gold-rimmed glasses. He stood up and cleared his throat and said: "The prosecution has conclusive evidence and the facts are clear. The criminal suspect Liu Ziguang committed murder with extremely cruel methods, particularly bad influence, and very serious consequences."
, but the defendant has shown some remorse, and I hope the court will deal with it leniently."
Everyone in the court looked at Hou Zhenye in surprise. They had seen such a fucked up person, but they had never seen such a fucked up person. The defense words were actually harsher than the words used in the prosecution’s indictment. It was extremely special, even though a lenient treatment was added as a routine later.
, it sounds like again, don’t let Ya die too quickly, torture him for a while longer.
The presiding judge said: "Defendant, do you have any objection to the prosecutor's submission?"
Liu Ziguang glanced at the people in the court. At the request of the victim's family, today was a closed trial. In fact, his speech was meaningless, but he still started to speak.
"I did not kill Chen Runing. I believe everyone here is well aware of this fact. It is undeniable that the evidence you produced is almost perfect and is quite unfavorable to me, but black will never become white. My words, presiding judge.
It’s over, please continue.”
The presiding judge picked up the gavel and knocked it, and said solemnly: "The court will be adjourned now. The verdict will be announced in ten minutes."
The court adjourned, and Liu Ziguang was taken into the detention room next to the court. Although he knew that he was likely to face the death penalty, he remained calm, chatted and laughed, and even asked the bailiff for a cigarette.
The bailiff looked at Liu Ziguang with pity. Everyone in the court watched yesterday's program. Everyone knew that the real murderer of Chen Runing was Mu Lianheng. The prisoner waiting for sentencing in front of him was just a scapegoat, but there was nothing they could do.
Execute the command.
In the lounge, Chen Xuanwu asked his mother angrily: "Mom, the man named Liu will definitely not escape death this time. I just think Mu Lianheng's death was too simple and too easy for him! I should have let him be cut into pieces."
Only blocks will do.”
Mai Kangmei said: "In short, the real murderer is dead, and you can comfort your father's spirit in heaven, so don't pursue it so much. When the verdict is announced later, when reporters ask questions, don't talk nonsense."
Chen Xuanwu said: "Mom, I understand."
The court reopened, the presiding judge read out the verdict, and after a lengthy introduction to the case, the most critical part finally came.
“Based on the facts, nature, circumstances and degree of harm to society of defendant Liu Ziguang’s crime, in accordance with Articles 232, 234 and 316 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China,
Article 69, Paragraph 1 of Article 57, the judgment is as follows:
The defendant Liu Ziguang was sentenced to death for intentional homicide and deprived of political rights for life; for intentional injury, he was sentenced to three years in prison; for escape, he was sentenced to five years in prison. It was decided to execute the death penalty.
If you are dissatisfied with this judgment, you may appeal through this court or directly to the Jiangdong Provincial Higher People's Court within ten days from the second day after receiving the judgment. If you appeal in writing, you must submit one original copy of the appeal and five copies."
After hearing the verdict, Liu Ziguang did not lose control of his emotions as everyone imagined. He just smiled lightly and was quietly taken away by the bailiff.
The trial ended. Official media reporters who had been prepared interviewed the victim's family. Mai Kangmei said that the legal network was restored and no omissions were missed. The murderer finally got justice. He was grateful to Jiangbei Police and Jiangbei Intermediate People's Court.
A reporter asked: "Are you satisfied with the verdict?"
"Very satisfied!" Chen Xuanwu replied decisively on behalf of his mother.
…
At a well-known law firm in Jiangbei City, partner Lawyer Zhang received Li Wan and his entourage in the reception room. After hearing clearly the purpose of the visit, Lawyer Zhang raised his eyebrows and said, "Can I take a look at the video information?"
Wei Ziqian immediately opened his laptop and played to Lawyer Zhang what Mu Lianheng said at the interview. After reading it, Lawyer Zhang pushed up his glasses and said, "Where is this person now?"
"He died. It is said that he had a heart attack and died in the provincial capital this morning." Hu Rong said.
Lawyer Zhang pondered for a moment and seemed to be embarrassed, "I have heard about this video, but when I wanted to watch it, I couldn't find it online. To be honest, this video alone is not enough to prove anything. If it was in ancient times, it would
Honest officials can still overturn the case, but under the current legal system, this cannot be used as evidence at all."
"Isn't it also true if the criminal admits it himself?" Hu Rong asked.
"No." Lawyer Zhang shook his head, "Even if the suspect admits it personally, it will not help. Otherwise, everyone will go to the top of the tank, and the court will lose its role."
Li Wan asked: "Now that the death sentence has been issued, I think this video can be used as evidence to reverse the case. Can the public security organs supplement the investigation? Do you think there is a high possibility of winning the second trial?"
Lawyer Zhang hesitated a little, stood up and said: "Mr. Li, please take a step to speak."
Arriving at the inner room, Lawyer Zhang said sincerely: "Mr. Li, it's not that I won't help you. Our firm has received a verbal notice from the bureau that we are not allowed to take on this case. I advise you not to go to the province, but to Beijing."
I'm looking for another lawyer. According to my analysis, this case is not that simple. No matter how much evidence there is, it will be useless."
Li Wan came out of the inner room, her steps seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. Wei Ziqian and Hu Rong understood everything when they saw her look.
"Go to the media and expose the matter." Hu Rong said harshly.
Soon I contacted several journalist friends, invited them to a teahouse, and played Mu Lianheng's video. Everyone was shocked, but an older reporter in the lead said: "Officer Hu, it's not that we don't want to help.
There is really nothing I can do to help."
The reporters looked embarrassed and seemed to have something to hide.
Everyone was silent.
…
At the detention center, Liu Ziguang was taken into a large office. There were brightly colored fruits on the coffee table, a box of Chinese cigarettes was unpacked, and the tea cup was filled with Junshan Maojian, and the aroma was overflowing.
"Director Tan, we meet again." Liu Ziguang said with a smile, without any consciousness of a death row prisoner.
Tan Zhihai also smiled: "Hello, Xiao Liu, I've made you feel wronged."
Liu Ziguang said: "It's okay, I'm used to it."
Tan Zhihai said: "Actually, I just found out that you were not the one who killed Chen Runing. The real murderer was hidden very deep."
"Oh, who did it? Is it his assistant?"
"You guessed it right, it's Mu Lianheng. Hey, how did you know?"
"Look, I can see hatred in his eyes. By the way, Director Tan, I don't think you are here to release me, are you?"
Tan Zhihai laughed heartily: "You are very smart, Xiao Liu. I have always felt sorry for you. If you had adopted a cooperative attitude, we would not have been so tense. Now, although we know that you are not the real murderer, the case has been decided."
, the report has also gone out, you can’t make it difficult for the comrades in the court to be a good person, right? We have to take the overall situation into consideration. Besides, although you can clear this charge, are you really that innocent?"
Liu Ziguang was startled: "How?"
Tan Zhihai opened a small book and said: "Three years ago, there was a car accident in Xishan. The deceased was named Wei Yinlong. The car crashed and everyone was killed. At the same time, a man named Yao Laoer disappeared in Jinjijinghuang. His body has not been found yet. There is also Jinjinghuihuang.
The boss, Yan Jinlong, fell to his death from a building inexplicably. Do you dare to say that the deaths of these people have nothing to do with you?"
Liu Ziguang laughed loudly: "Director Tan, in fact, you have said so much, haven't you proved that you can crucify me? I believe that we don't have to make it so complicated. You have charged me with the death penalty, isn't it just a crime?"
What's the deal? Let's open the skylight and speak frankly. Don't do this nonsense. If you can confirm my guilt, are you still using it to forge evidence that I killed Chen Runing?"
Tan Zhihai smiled condescendingly: "It's a pleasure to deal with smart people, Liu Ziguang, I admire your calmness, although I don't know where your confidence comes from. Now you have been sentenced to death by Jiangbei Intermediate People's Court, if you don't appeal.
, the death penalty will be carried out after approval by the Supreme Court. As for whether it will be an injection or a shooting, I don’t know. Of course, if you appeal, the chance of overturning the situation is very low."
Liu Ziguang still smiled, "What then?"
"You don't want your parents to have white-haired parents and send them to black-haired parents? It's hard for me to imagine your leukemia-stricken father's expression when he saw your verdict in the newspaper. Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you that several of your friends
You wanted to send your father to a foreign country for medical treatment, but we dissuaded him from doing so."
Liu Ziguang raised his eyebrows: "Of course I don't hope, because I am innocent at all. Director Tan, what exactly do you want to say? Do you want me to cooperate with you and ask you to show me a clear way and let me sign an agreement?"
If you donate the West Sadamoa Wood Iron Mine to the government, you will be exempted from the death penalty, and then I will burst into tears of gratitude. This is basically what your drama is all about, right?"