The Lawyer Who Reads Tomorrow - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 21

 

 

“Witness, have you ever responded to scenes similar to this one?”

 

It was my first question.

Team Leader Yoon Hak-gil quietly nodded his head.

 

“Yes. Given my profession… it has happened quite often.”

“Then have you ever directly encountered a defendant in a murder case like this?”

“It wasn’t uncommon, but… this case is actually somewhat unusual…”

 

His words trailed off.

Witness examination is meaningful when it breaks down the argument the opposing side is trying to make.

 

So the point is to invalidate the argument itself by destroying the foundation of what Prosecutor Kim was trying to say when he first called Fire Lieutenant Yoon Hak-gil as a witness.

 

“An unusual case, that’s right. I think so too. Where in the world would you find a defendant who kills someone and then calls 119 begging to save them? It’s quite unusual indeed.”

 

Making such contrived statements was also one of the means to achieve that purpose.

Of course, it would depend on which judge was presiding over the trial.

 

Judge Seo was the person who couldn’t stand boredom the most among all the judges I knew.

I’m not saying this because he’s my colleague, but sometimes I worried about his mental health.

 

“…Yes. I also think that point is quite unusual. And… it’s really not easy for me to say this in a place like this… but he cried a lot at the scene. The reporter did.”

“I see. Getting back to the main point, do you also acknowledge the fact that the defendant tried to perform hemostasis?”

“Yes, of course. At that time, the staff member who spoke with the reporter guided him on hemostasis methods, and the reporter appeared to follow those instructions exactly.”

“Are such cases common? I mean, in your earlier testimony, you said it wasn’t uncommon to encounter ‘defendants in murder cases,’ but as the prosecutor mentioned, cases where someone inflicts wounds severe enough to reasonably expect death, then tries their absolute best to save the person again?”

 

This was about all I could get from Yoon Hak-gil’s examination anyway.

Just planting seeds to allow for some doubt. Yoon Hak-gil shook his head.

 

“It’s not typical. Of course not. If it were a typical case, we wouldn’t have encountered the defendant when we arrived at the scene, and the moment the perpetrator thought the victim was killed, they would have fled the scene.”

“That’s all.”

 

Prosecutor Kim hadn’t raised any objections to my words yet.

He must be thinking it over.

The defendant’s side claiming innocence was already a severe risk for him from the start.

 

Soon after, the next witness took the witness stand.

It was still a witness for the prosecution.

 

“I’m the homeroom teacher for Jae-yoon and Seung-jun… ah… the victim and the defendant.”

 

It was the woman I had met recently.

Her gaunt face showed discomfort with this setting, and her voice was trembling.

Prosecutor Kim seemed to share my thoughts and spoke gently.

 

“Just tell us the facts. Now, what was the relationship between the defendant and victim usually like?”

“Well… Jae-yoon was very sociable, and Seung-jun was…”

“Please continue.”

“He wasn’t exactly… the sociable type. But the two of them stuck together at school every day. They were close enough that other students knew about their friendship.”

 

She had said similar things when I visited her before.

 

But I had a strangely unsettling feeling.

No matter how nerve-wracking this situation was, teachers also stand at the teacher’s platform, don’t they?

There was no reason for her to be trembling this much.

 

Prosecutor Kim was also watching her closely.

 

“The relationship between the victim and defendant was quite good. However, according to materials we’ve obtained, victim Kim Jae-yoon was assaulted by the defendant several times. How much do you know about this fact?”

 

Prosecutor Kim displayed several School Violence Committee Reports on a large screen as if he had planned this.

It was the first time I was seeing them.

 

…Jung Seung-jun assaulted Kim Jae-yoon? It would make more sense if it were the other way around.

 

Actually, this was different from my expectations.

 

If it were me, I would have rather…

 

Right, I would have pushed the narrative that Jung Seung-jun harbored resentment over accumulated school violence and killed Kim Jae-yoon.

I bit my lips to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out.

 

‘He must have given it some thought.’

 

When there was so much evidence that Kim Jae-yoon had assaulted Jung Seung-jun.

Kim Wan-gil’s influence must have played a role.

 

Well, it wasn’t completely incomprehensible.

Even if his dead child was one thing, he couldn’t afford to ruin his own image too.

 

‘Especially since this case is getting so much media attention.’

 

Of course, it’s meaningless.

I could only think of it as cutting away at his own flesh.

 

“That, that’s…”

 

Witnesses have a duty to tell the truth.

Looking at how things were unfolding, it added more weight to the theory that Kim Wan-gil had applied pressure.

 

In fact, before the first trial date, Kim Wan-gil had published even more hostile articles as if his life depended on it.

Perhaps thinking that even his position as a legislator was at stake, his indiscriminate criticism toward Jung Seung-jun was getting worse by the day.

 

Thanks to this, even Kim Wan-gil’s supporters joined in, and crowds gathered in front of Jung Seung-jun’s house, protesting and demanding that even Seung-jun’s Grandfather’s fruit store be shut down.

 

“Witness, tell the truth.”

 

Judge Seo spoke solemnly.

He too must have felt a strange intuition.

 

The homeroom teacher, who had been biting her lips and fidgeting restlessly for a moment, moved her lips slightly.

 

“…There wasn’t any in the class I was in charge of…”

“So you’re saying you didn’t know about the school violence incidents that occurred previously?”

“…”

 

Moreover, Kim Wan-gil had already been putting pressure on the homeroom teacher through the Education Office.

I could almost see what must have happened between then and the trial.

 

“Witness.”

“…I knew…”

“Answer properly.”

“I knew about it.”

 

Noh Hae-min, sitting in the gallery, let out a sigh.

Right, you must not have liked how things were turning out either.

 

Encouraged by the homeroom teacher’s answer, Prosecutor Kim’s shoulders seemed to rise slightly.

 

“As already submitted, victim Kim Jae-yoon was a student with a promising future due to his sincere attitude and grades at school. The defendant, who had been bullying Kim Jae-yoon continuously since elementary school, impulsively killed the victim at the end of a fight, as stated in the testimony.”

 

With Prosecutor Kim’s conclusive statement, my opportunity arrived.

The homeroom teacher, who already knew my face, wasn’t even looking in the direction of Jung Seung-jun and me anymore.

 

“Witness, you took an oath in this sacred courtroom just moments ago. You have a duty to speak the truth according to your conscience, without hiding or adding anything, and you swore to be punished for perjury if you lie. Do you remember?”

 

As soon as I began the cross-examination with those words, Prosecutor Kim raised his hand and spoke to Judge Seo.

 

“Your Honor! The defense attorney is now creating an atmosphere tantamount to intimidation toward a witness who is already intimidated.”

 

…Prosecutor Kim isn’t the type to take dirty money from somewhere.

 

He probably believes this is real.

Instead of snorting, I spoke leisurely.

 

“I merely reminded the witness about the oath. An oath cannot be intimidation.”

“…Defense attorney, please continue.”

 

See? Judge Seo likes interesting things.

Prosecutor Kim sat down with a deeply furrowed brow.

 

“…Do you remember when you met with me previously?”

 

The homeroom teacher nodded with a pale face.

 

“Good. Then do you remember everything we talked about then?”

“…To some extent, yes.”

 

The homeroom teacher’s voice trembled anxiously.

Right, you must be worried.

But I had no intention of going easy on her.

 

“I remember. You said then that the victim and defendant, along with another friend Park Hyung-il, maintained quite a good relationship.”

 

I deliberately brought up Park Hyung-il’s name.

 

Although Lim Do-hyuk hadn’t returned, people from the Hae-il side were still remaining in the gallery.

As soon as Park Hyung-il’s name was heard, the faces of the Hae-il side crumpled, showing they weren’t pleased.

 

Of course, Prosecutor Kim’s face wasn’t good either.

He too would know Park Hyung-il’s name through the investigation records.

 

He was just showing irritation as if asking why I was dragging that name into this.

 

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

 

Hearing her brief answer, I asked again gently.

 

“How did their relationship appear to you?”

“As… as I already mentioned… it was good. Both Jae-yoon and Hyung-il were close with Seung-jun… and they took good care of Seung-jun.”

“They took good care of him?”

“Oh, yes… whenever Seung-jun seemed to have difficulty adapting at school, those two would approach him first and help him.”

“Typically, do students who receive help at school often assault the students who help them?”

 

The homeroom teacher let out a trembling sigh. Prosecutor Kim jumped up and spoke loudly.

 

“That’s sophistry! Your Honor, the defense attorney is now confusing the witness with statements that reinforce prejudice.”

 

There goes that controlling type again.

 

Prosecutor Kim couldn’t hide his discomfort when things weren’t proceeding according to his wishes.

But speaking as a former judge, in situations like this, it’s only a negative.

 

“Sophistry? I merely asked a question about typical situations to a witness who has expertise as a homeroom teacher.”

“…Defense attorney, please continue.”

 

I looked back at the homeroom teacher, taking my gaze off Prosecutor Kim.

She was staring intently at the microphone with a face that looked like she might vomit at any moment.

 

“Again, I want to ask if you remember what you said at that time. That Kim Wan-gil, the father of victim Kim Jae-yoon, was continuously putting pressure through the Education Office.”

“…!”

“Do you remember?”

 

Prosecutor Kim jumped up.

He raised his hand again and appealed to the judge.

 

“Your Honor! The defense attorney is now talking about matters unrelated to this case.”

“No, it is related. Please consider the numerous interests involved in this case. The victim’s father is a National Assembly member with great interest in education, particularly school violence, and it’s not impossible for him to use his power to pressure the Education Office and the school.”

 

Judge Seo wore an expression as if deep in thought.

 

“Defense attorney, please continue. However, you must not stray from the point.”

“Thank you.”

 

Prosecutor Kim’s face turned red.

My concern for his blood pressure medicine began to sprout anew, but I forced myself to turn my gaze toward the homeroom teacher.

 

“The evidence submitted by our side already includes testimonies from several students. Testimonies that victim Kim Jae-yoon continuously bullied the defendant, and photos and video materials also exist.”

“….”

“Witness, have you really seen the school violence report presented by the prosecution earlier?”

“….”

“Are you aware of the school violence that occurred before the defendants entered high school?”

 

The homeroom teacher’s face became completely distorted.

The pale-faced woman repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fists, desperately trying to hold back tears.

 

After a short but long time passed, the woman finally opened her mouth.

 

“…No.”

“That’s all.”

 

If my evidence had become a piece of paper, it was only natural to turn the opponent’s evidence into waste paper as well.

After enjoying Prosecutor Kim’s distorted face, I looked at the next witness and smiled.

 

‘This is a witness I requested.’

 

Prosecutor Kim, who must be finding today’s trial not going his way at all, was still sighing deeply.

His reddened complexion had not recovered its normal appearance.

 

What to do about this.

Today would become the most nightmarish day in his previously smooth prosecutorial career.

 

I barely managed to lower my constantly rising corners of my mouth and waited for the witness.

 

“I am Park Mi-yeon, who operates a cram school in XX Building.”

 

Today’s trial was particularly sweet.

Unlike Jung Seung-jun, who couldn’t even lift his head and only looked down at his desk, my mood wasn’t bad.

 

Rather, it was on the good side.

 

I began my first question toward Park Mi-yeon, who stood without trembling.

 

“Witness, you were conducting business at the cram school located directly on the upper floor from the scene on the day of the incident, correct?”

“Yes! That’s correct.”

 

The woman in her forties answered calmly.

 

‘That person has been operating the cram school in the same location for over 10 years.’

‘Jung Seung-jun also attended that cram school, right?’

‘Yes. I’m certain. I don’t know if it was because of Jung Seung-jun, but Kim Jae-yoon and Park Hyung-il also briefly attended the cram school during middle school.’

 

And.

 

‘…I’m about to be kicked out without even receiving key money, so would I be scared of some parent?!’

 

Park Mi-yeon harbored tremendous ill feelings toward Park Hyung-il’s mother, who had sold the building.

Because rumors that the building would soon be demolished were widespread in the area.

 

Of course, it was favorable for me.

Because I was just about to ask Park Mi-yeon to become a witness for our side.

 

‘I’m already pissed off to death anyway. You’re just saying I need to tell the truth, right?’

‘That’s correct.’

‘When I’m about to close my business, what would I be scared of? Let’s do it, let’s do it! That witness thing! Let’s do it!’

 

She was the key that would lead my trial to victory.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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