The Prosecution Changes the Indictment!

November 15.

At nine in the morning, a prisoner transport van slowly entered the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court from the detention center. It turned into a restricted lane and disappeared from view.

Several judges waited for the appointed time.

Noon.

At the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Procuratorate, several prosecutors changed into black suits with red ties. Their faces were unusually grave, and they kept a tight grip on the documents in their hands.

Meanwhile, at Yang Teng Law Firm.

Attorney Chen Wei wore a grim expression. For days, he had been held up as a target in the storm of public opinion, and his mood had hit rock bottom.

He organized his relentless line of attack, then climbed into a car with a cold smile and headed for the courthouse.

At the same time.

At Jinmao Law Firm.

Xu De was dressed in a suit, his expression calm, as though what lay ahead posed no threat at all.

He casually hailed a taxi and told the driver:

"To the Intermediate People's Court."

One thirty in the afternoon.

Reporters across Greenwood City, who had been waiting for so long, began to stir. The women fixed their hair and makeup, the men straightened their clothes, and the photographers repeatedly checked their equipment.

Two in the afternoon.

Hundreds of people filed into the First Courtroom of the Intermediate People's Court, vying for good seats.

Reporter Zhang Xia was among them, but this time she sat in the front row, closest to the trial area.

Zhang Xia glanced back at the public gallery.

The moment she turned, a sea of heads flooded her vision. The crowd seemed to stretch everywhere, its sheer size oppressive.

"Even more people came to watch the trial this time than the first!"

That was what Zhang Xia thought. She turned back toward the trial area and stared at the empty chairs. A sudden tension rose inside her.

Public opinion had been building ever since the first hearing's outcome...

Clearly, it had drawn even more people here!

The four hundred-odd chairs were nowhere near enough. Those without seats could only stand at the back, but none showed any intention of leaving.

Yet the size of the crowd had no direct bearing on the outcome.

Whether he lived or died, and where the case would go from here... it all depended on today!

Meanwhile.

Beside Zhang Xia.

"It's two thirty. When are they coming?"

A man looked at the unusually quiet trial area, still as a painting, and frowned in confusion.

It was Wang Chao.

Yes, Wang Chao had come too. As a prospective partner at the firm, he needed to see for himself whether its leader was worth backing.

"Shh."

Lin Yue, seated nearby, raised a finger to her lips. Before she had even finished the gesture...

Her gaze fell on the main door beside the trial area. Her heart skipped a beat, and her expression turned solemn.

"They're here!"

The instant she spoke.

Creak.

The sound of a door swinging open echoed through the First Courtroom and reached every ear.

All at once.

The murmuring courtroom fell silent. Everyone held their breath and looked toward the trial area.

At the side entrance to the trial area.

Several men in business suits and bright red ties appeared in the doorway.

Prosecutor Hu Guang raised his head. His impassive eyes swept over the hundreds of faces staring at him from the dark mass of the crowd.

Then he looked away.

Tap, tap...

Dress shoes struck the floor.

Under everyone's gaze, three prosecutors walked toward the Prosecution Bench. The plaintiffs, Plaintiff Li Youcai and Plaintiff Liu Cui, followed behind them.

So did Chen Wei, counsel for the victim.

The three prosecutors took their seats.

The prosecution is here.

The thought ran through the crowd, but before anyone could dwell on it...

The door near the Defendant's Bench opened, and a solitary figure appeared.

Xu De glanced at the prosecutors. Otherwise, his expression did not change, and he walked to the Defendant's Bench alone.

Just like last time, he was the only one at the Trial Hearing. He looked badly outnumbered.

The defense is here too... and just like last time, there's only one lawyer, Zhang Xia thought.

After Xu De, the defendant, Wang Qiang, entered the courtroom.

He looked much the same as before: gaunt, dressed in a yellow uniform, his hands cuffed. Two Court Bailiffs escorted him in and seated him in the chair at the center of the trial area.

The crowd watched silently, guessing what would happen next.

A while later.

The clerk suddenly spoke, and the words "All rise" rang out.

Zhang Bingxin, Sun Dong, and Liu Jianguo entered in judicial robes, walking at a measured pace.

The three made no unnecessary movements. Their faces were stern, their gazes solemn, and the authority they radiated was almost oppressive.

Tap, tap, tap...

Their footsteps approached the Judges' Bench.

Scrape.

Zhang Bingxin sat in the Presiding Judge's chair on the highest platform. a Gavel lay on the desk before him.

He looked up at both sides. Once he had confirmed they were ready, he reached for the Gavel and raised it.

Bang!

The Gavel struck with a crisp crack that made everyone's heart jolt, as though the blow had landed against their chests.

The next moment.

Zhang Bingxin rose to his feet, his resonant, solemn voice carrying through the courtroom.

"This case was brought by the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Procuratorate. The prosecution has now amended the charges..."

He paused there.

Then his voice continued.

"The scope of this trial covers the defendant's alleged offenses of causing death by negligence through Excessive Self-Defense and Intentional Injury..."

"The prosecution filed charges with this court on October 10, 2002. In accordance with the relevant provisions, the First Criminal Trial Court of the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court will hear the case in open court."

"In this case, Judge Zhang Bingxin will serve as Presiding Judge, with Liu Jianguo and Sun Dong serving as judges..."

"Now, I declare..."

As he spoke.

A note of resolve entered Zhang Bingxin's voice, and he pronounced the words:

"The hearing is open!"

The hearing... had begun!

And this second hearing was different from the first.

"The prosecution changed the charges in the indictment!?"

"They've gone from accusing him of intentional homicide to causing death by negligence through Excessive Self-Defense..."

"Tsk. Looks like the defense lawyer made quite an impression on them last time. They even changed the indictment..."

"..."

The moment the hearing was declared open, a tremor ran through the public gallery.

The indictment had changed!

What did that mean?

It meant the charges the prosecution had brought last time had been completely overturned!

And the defense had managed that without even presenting substantive evidence at the last hearing...

I wonder what he has this time...

Zhang Xia stared at Xu De, her fists clenched. Then she looked toward the Defendant's Bench and Wang Qiang's gaunt back.

The commotion in the gallery was subdued.

It did not reach the trial area or disrupt the proceedings. Zhang Bingxin's face remained stern and utterly expressionless.

He turned toward the prosecution.

"Prosecution, please read the indictment."

At his words.

Prosecutor Hu Guang rose slowly, holding a document in his hand. He parted his lips.

"Honorable Presiding Judge and judges, I am Hu Guang, the prosecutor in this case."

"The defendant, Wang Qiang, is fifty-two years old, born on April 17, 1950. He was arrested on October 2, 2002."

"Following this procuratorate's renewed investigation, we hereby amend the indictment. The defendant, Wang Qiang, became highly agitated after the deceased unlawfully detained, imprisoned, and raped his daughter, Wang Mei. During an act of self-defense, he clashed with the deceased, causing his death."

"In summary, the defendant, Wang Qiang, violated Article 234 of the Criminal Law and committed the offense of Intentional Injury!"

"At the same time, his actions also violated Article 20 and Article 233 of the Criminal Law, constituting..."

At that point.

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

"Excessive Self-Defense resulting in death by negligence!"

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

"This procuratorate brings these charges in accordance with the law and requests that the court sentence the defendant accordingly!"