Su Bai nodded in satisfaction. Learning and growing were essential abilities for a lawyer.
Clearly, Li Xuezhen had done well in that regard.
She deserved encouragement!
The fourth lesson was complete.
Su Bai took Li Xuezhen and the relevant documents to the court that had heard the first trial, the Northern Capital Intermediate Court, to apply for copies of the case file.
The circumstances of this death penalty case were particularly serious.
Before the first trial, heated arguments had erupted online over whether it constituted excessive self-defense or intentional homicide, drawing many netizens into the debate.
As a result, the Northern Capital Intermediate Court had heard the case at first instance.
They arrived at the Northern Capital Intermediate Court.
Following the required procedure, Su Bai submitted the documents to the relevant court staff.
A female staff member looked over the documents he had submitted, then sized him up with mild curiosity. "Southern Capital Marriage Consulting Law Firm?"
"Are you sure you've been retained for Qi Feng's death penalty case?"
Qi Feng was the defendant in this case, the young college student who had killed two people in succession.
The case had caused quite a stir online. As an employee of the court that had heard the first trial, the woman clearly knew something about it.
Su Bai flashed his white teeth. "Is there a problem?"
"No. No problem at all."
The woman hurriedly shook her head with a smile. "I just didn't expect someone facing the death penalty to retain a marriage consulting law firm. And this is a Northern Capital case, while your firm is from the Southern Capital..."
"I've brought all the required documents. We should be able to get copies of the case file, right?"
Su Bai continued with a smile.
"Of course. No problem. I'll make the copies for you right away."
The woman clearly had a favorable impression of the handsome Su Bai. Even her voice had softened.
This damned obsession with looks left even Su Bai feeling a little helpless.
With that, the woman took the relevant documents away to copy the case file.
Standing beside him, Li Xuezhen watched the woman briefly, then straightened her posture.
An hour later.
The woman handed the case file to Su Bai and asked curiously, "Can your firm win this case?"
Su Bai smiled without giving a definite answer. "We'll do our best."
After collecting the case file.
Su Bai took Li Xuezhen back to the hotel.
"Come to my room in a little while."
Su Bai reminded her before they parted.
"Huh?"
"Lawyer Su, you want me to come to your room in a little while?"
"Yes. To go through the case file."
"All right, Lawyer Su. Got it. I'll come over shortly."
Li Xuezhen's face fell a little as she nodded.
Su Bai was in room 506, while Li Xuezhen was in room 502. They weren't far apart.
A little while later.
Li Xuezhen knocked on Su Bai's door.
When the door opened, she saw the case documents laid out on the table.
Su Bai handed her a portion of the file he had already organized.
"First, find the evidence supporting the prosecution's charges and summarize it. I'll review the arguments made by the prosecution and defense in the first trial, along with the legal provisions cited in the judgment."
The arguments and statutory grounds for the first-instance judgment were useful references for the appeal.
Furthermore.
Luo Daxiang had said that the prosecutors handling both the first trial and the appeal were top criminal prosecutors.
Studying the opposing side's arguments and the legal provisions they had used would provide useful guidance for his own arguments on appeal.
Half an hour later.
After reading through the trial arguments and the legal provisions underlying the judgment, Su Bai rubbed his brow.
The first trial had indeed been just as Luo Daxiang had described.
The entire proceeding had revolved around two possibilities: negligent homicide resulting from excessive self-defense, or intentional homicide.
Now he had a clearer picture and could be certain that the appellate judgment would not uphold the original verdict.
But.
The specifics would still depend on the presiding judge and the defendant, Qi Feng.
"Let's go see our client. Bring that evidence."
Su Bai put away the documents containing the trial arguments and spoke while rubbing his temples.
"All right, Lawyer Su."
Li Xuezhen quickly organized the evidence, put it into her briefcase, and pattered out of the room to follow Su Bai.
Bright Street Detention Center, Northern Capital.
Inside the detention center.
Su Bai and Li Xuezhen went to the appropriate service window and submitted the required documents.
They then sat in the lobby and waited for an hour.
An officer approached Su Bai. "Are you Su Bai, the lawyer from the Southern Capital's White Jun Law Firm?"
"Yes, I'm Su Bai, a lawyer from the Southern Capital."
"Regarding the application you submitted, you won't be able to visit today. It'll probably be the day after tomorrow."
"Probably? Do you have an exact time?"
"Well... we can't be certain. We can only give you an approximate time. We have your contact details and will get in touch as soon as the time is confirmed."
The officer was very polite.
Given that, Su Bai couldn't say much more. He could only grit his teeth in frustration, remembering that fellow at the Southern Capital detention center. Now that man had a conscience!
But this was the Northern Capital...
Chunghwa cigarettes wouldn't get him very far here...
The case had attracted so much attention that if someone caught him, it would all be over. If he had to wait two days, so be it.
"Let's go. We'll head back and wait a couple of days."
Su Bai waved for Li Xuezhen to follow him back.
But Li Xuezhen suddenly spoke up. "Lawyer Su, will waiting two days affect our progress on the case?"
Su Bai thought for a few seconds before answering, "A little, but not too seriously. Why?"
"Lawyer Su, weren't you teaching me how to navigate social connections? I just spotted someone I know. Wait here a moment."
With that, Li Xuezhen pattered outside the detention center and sent someone a message on her phone.
Then she returned to Su Bai, smiling brightly.
"Lawyer Su, I've taken care of it. We'll be able to go in and see Qi Feng shortly."
Su Bai looked at Li Xuezhen in confusion. ???
Before long.
The same polite officer returned to Su Bai. He gave him a rather strange look, then took a deep breath and said:
"Your visit has been approved. Come with me."
Su Bai looked at the smiling Li Xuezhen.
????
Wait, you have connections in the Northern Capital too?!
Why didn't you say so earlier?!
If you'd told me sooner, we wouldn't have had to wait! We could've just used your connections and been done with it!
Seeing the surprise in Su Bai's eyes, Li Xuezhen felt a surge of delight.
As his trainee lawyer and assistant, she had finally made a contribution to the case!
"Lawyer Su, let's go."
Well, Su Bai hadn't expected Li Xuezhen's connections to be so powerful-or so extensive.
But when he thought about it, she was the favored final protégé of a leading legal expert, with plenty of senior fellow students. It was only natural that she would occasionally have someone to turn to.
Su Bai nodded slightly without speaking and followed the officer.
Li Xuezhen pattered along behind him.
Please keep reading~
(End of chapter)
Before you continue