Chapter 83: Chapter 83: This time, there aren’t many people, only one is sent in.
Zhang Wei’s face was grim. Looking at Gao Feng, who was now blaming him, he became instantly furious.
In this day and age... there are just too many people ignorant of the law, he thought. Ignorance of the law wasn’t terrifying in itself; what was terrifying were clients in the courtroom who refused to listen to their lawyers. If Baidu was so useful, what did they need lawyers like him for?
Soon, fifteen minutes passed, and the court resumed.
BANG—
A solemn and powerful sound echoed.
At the front, the judge declared in a deep voice, "After two hours of presentation and defense, the panel has concluded its deliberations. Now, I ask both the plaintiff and the defendant to make their final statements."
Gao Feng was startled. He hadn’t expected to enter the final statement phase immediately after the adjournment.
"Is the trial going to end so soon?" he muttered. He swallowed nervously and couldn’t help but look toward Zhang Wei. Clueless about the trial process, he panicked again.
But Zhang Wei merely shot him a cold glance, without a word, as if resigned to his fate.
Meanwhile, at the plaintiff’s bench, Qin Mu stood up and began summarizing, "We accuse Gao Feng of disregarding public safety in the Mountain and Water Garden District, randomly dropping objects from a height, and showing indifference to the lives and property of others. After the incident, the defendant showed no remorse and repeatedly concealed the truth, leading the investigation into a deadlock. In this courtroom, he has shown no sign of repentance and attempted to absolve himself by citing intoxication as an excuse. His act of dropping objects from a height is extremely dangerous and has had a severe impact on public safety. We do not seek any compensation, only that he receives the maximum sentence!"
His summary was crystal clear, resonating through the courtroom. Every word reached Gao Feng’s ears.
Upon hearing this, Gao Feng’s complexion changed drastically. He hurriedly blurted out, "I object! I was drunk! I wasn’t aware of what I was doing..."
BANG—
At the head of the courtroom, the judge struck the gavel. "Silence!" he commanded, cutting off Gao Feng.
In the courtroom, everything followed rules and procedures. When the plaintiff was speaking, no one else was allowed to speak; otherwise, the courtroom, inherently a place for defense and litigation, would be no different from a rowdy marketplace.
Admonished, Gao Feng involuntarily shrank his neck.
"Now, I ask the defendant to make his final statement." Following this, the judge spoke again, turning his gaze toward Gao Feng.
Gao Feng swallowed nervously. He looked toward Zhang Wei beside him. Unfortunately, Zhang Wei kept his gaze fixed forward, utterly composed, and didn’t seem to notice him.
"Please, defendant, make your final statement!" the judge prompted, seeing his silence. This procedure was the final statement phase. The plaintiff and defendant needed to speak independently; lawyers could not summarize for them.
Nervous and fearful, Gao Feng clenched his teeth and forced himself to raise his head. He stated, "I was indeed drinking. It wasn’t intentional while I was intoxicated, and no one was hurt. I think... I should be acquitted."
Zhang Wei, upon hearing this, felt the corners of his mouth twitch. He almost laughed out of frustration. Before the trial, he had prepared a final statement draft for Gao Feng, clearly listing points for a lighter sentence. Yet, in his desperation, Gao Feng had forgotten the script entirely, still fixated on the intoxication issue.
Considering his performance in court, it would be a miracle if the judge granted a lighter sentence! Zhang Wei thought.
BANG—
After both sides had made their statements, the judge struck the gavel and stood up with the members of the panel.
He spoke in a deep voice, "I declare that this trial is over. After deliberation by the collegiate panel, the facts are clear, and the applicable law is well-defined. The defendant, Gao Feng, committed the act of throwing objects from a height on the 21st of this month. This act violated our country’s criminal laws against high-altitude throwing and endangering public safety through dangerous methods. The trial was public, the evidence ample and uncontested throughout; hence, the verdict is delivered now. According to the law, the defendant Gao Feng is convicted of the crime of throwing objects from a height and the crime of endangering public safety with dangerous methods. Punished for the more severe of these, he is sentenced to six years in prison. If you do not accept this decision, you may appeal through this court or directly to the higher People’s Court within two days of receiving the written judgment."
The trial, lasting nearly three hours, officially concluded with this verdict.
In the defendant’s bench, Gao Feng heard the decision, and his face turned deathly pale. He had never imagined that after all his "efforts," the court not only wouldn’t acquit him but would hand down a six-year sentence! That was one year more than he had anticipated! His face was a mask of despair.
Full of grievances, he turned to Zhang Wei and questioned, "Lawyer Zhang, didn’t you say you were best at reducing sentences? Didn’t you say it wouldn’t be more than five years?"
Zhang Wei rolled his eyes. Finally venting, he exclaimed, "If you believe Baidu, why did you hire me? Why not just use Baidu for your lawsuit? You’re the worst client I’ve ever had—no one worse before, and no one will be worse in the future!"
When he took on this case, he had told Gao Feng to listen to him completely during the court session. Who could have thought Gao Feng would secretly "try harder," learning a theory of "acquittal defense" from so-called lawyers on the internet?
With such an incompetent teammate sabotaging things, a reduced sentence would have been a miracle!
Gao Feng, not expecting Zhang Wei’s temper to be so explosive, said weakly, "But... cell phones aren’t allowed in court."
This remark only made Zhang Wei laugh again in sheer exasperation. He actually thought about doing it himself to save money! Zhang Wei realized.
「Outside the courthouse.」
"This win was too easy," Wang Dachui stretched lazily, his expression somewhat strange. The more time I spend with Qin Mu, the more it seems I’m shifting from civil to criminal law, he realized. To be honest, I’m even considering a career change. Criminal lawyers earn so much more than civil ones.
"Who could have thought their side would actually rely on lawyers from Baidu..." Qin Mu’s mouth twitched. This case was even more surreal than the earlier one involving Yang Minghui. In Yang Minghui’s case, they just didn’t show up. Gao Feng, however, directly used arguments from Baidu lawyers for his defense.
And the stuff on Baidu... it’s never been professional. You look up something minor like a cold or diarrhea, and the diagnosis starts at cancer, at least. The so-called legal consultants online probably don’t even have law licenses.
However, Qin Mu felt no sympathy for Gao Feng’s six-year sentence. Throwing objects from a height carelessly is no different from murder, he thought firmly.
"Now I can go back and make a video."
After the judgment was issued, Qin Mu immediately returned to his home in the Mountain and Water Garden District. He recorded the incident for a video. After making the necessary edits, it took him three hours to complete the video about the high-altitude throwing.
At six in the evening, he released it.
As for the video’s title, he decided to keep it understated: "Not many this time, only sent one in."