Suffering from severe depression, severe neurocognitive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, mild autism, and dissociative disorder...
What... What is this nonsense?
Listening to the string of voices beside them, everyone in the courtroom showed a look of confusion.
Only Zhang Cheng, at this moment, stared blankly at Xu Liang.
Are... are you kidding?
What kind of joke is this!?
You fool, do you even know what you're talking about!
Zhang Cheng's eyes were red, a rush of blood went to his head.
Yet, due to regulations, he couldn't speak, feeling very uncomfortable, could only stare dead at Xu Liang.
The reporters and others felt they were listening to a lecture in an alien language, only reacting after a long pause to realize that the previous string of words were all names of mental disorders, exchanging puzzled looks.
Even Chen Dong, waiting for the verdict, showed a moment of confusion in his eyes.
Is... is his illness this severe?
The judge Zhao Yi and clerk were stunned repeatedly, but their professional ethics allowed them to recover.
"Defense attorney, please continue your statement." Zhao Yi said sternly.
Xu Liang nodded, took a deep breath, and continued:
"In the first trial, the point of contention was whether the defendant was subjectively committing the act of murder, intentional homicide, and intentional harm!"
"However, according to this diagnosis report, the other side's lawyer's statements were completely nonsense!"
"My client was in a state of mental instability, suffering from a mental illness due to a mysterious case seven years ago. On the night of June 1st, the deceased Chen Wei happened to approach him just like seven years ago..."
"Thus, my client had a flare-up of his mental illness, mistakenly believing he was in the scenario from seven years ago, which triggered the mental disorder..."
Xu Liang spoke slowly.
"Ultimately, the case occurred!"
Zhang Cheng was dumbfounded.
He looked at the other party in disbelief, stunned.
At this moment, Xu Liang added another sentence.
"This report is authentic and valid, provided by Hanhai Yishan Mental Hospital!"
After speaking, Xu Liang presented the report to the clerk.
The clerk's eye twitched while reviewing, confirming no errors before handing it to Judge Zhao Yi.
"This..."
Zhao Yi hesitated, his eyebrows furrowing, pondering how to rule the case.
After a long while, he looked up again.
"Does the defense have anything else to add?"
"No." Xu Liang shook his head and then took his seat.
Zhao Yi nodded, then turned his gaze to the prosecutor Zhang Cheng, who was already red-faced with suppressed anger.
"Prosecutor, please speak."
"Slander! This is slander! This is not evidence whatsoever!"
"The other side's lawyer is downright slandering my client!"
Upon hearing the word 'speak,' Zhang Cheng blurted out in urgency, even omitting any form of address.
If it were a third-rate lawyer, they would be in a frenzy by now.
A second-rate lawyer might ponder a bit.
A first-rate lawyer... would avoid such information and continuously reinforce the first trial.
But he was different.
Zhang Cheng was a Top-Notch Lawyer, and he vaguely sensed Xu Liang was about to play his third card!
"Firstly, the opposing counsel's logic is extremely fragmented."
"The so-called mysterious case from seven years ago, apart from a corpse, has no basis indicating it was caused by my client!"
"Also, there's no way to identify if during the act of killing the deceased, conditions triggering the mental disorder were manifest!"
Zhang Cheng stood up.
He glanced around, despite sweating profusely, still explained with clear logic.
He needed to tone down the information about the mental disorder.
The relationships must be clarified!
Otherwise, once the opposing counsel plays their third card, there will be no opportunity for him to turn the tables in this trial!
"In summary."
"We believe the opposing counsel's statements are mere sophistry, and their logic is forcibly patched together."
"Intentional murder by their client cannot be washed away."
As Zhang Cheng mentioned this, a flash of determination showed in his eyes, pulling out a document from his briefcase.
This was the evidence from the first trial that led Chen Dong to be convicted of intentional murder!
"Based on the evidence provided by the police."
"On the night of June 1st, the defendant Chen Dong stood on Hongfu Street holding a fruit knife and killed Chen Wei."
"I wish to ask the opposing counsel."
"Before he encountered Chen Wei, before the mental disorder flared up, this knife was already on Chen Dong's person, so..."
"How do you explain someone holding a sharp knife at 10 p.m., standing in the path of another returning home, and murdering them!?"
This is also why Judge Sun Ming at the first trial had grounds to sentence him to death.
Who would be idle holding a knife on the street?
Especially when it's just the enemy's path, coincidentally!?
"What explanation does the opposing counsel have!?"
Zhang Cheng exuded calmness, in stark contrast to Zhu Hong who was fuming behind him.
However...
Suddenly, Xu Liang laughed and countered with a question.
"So, according to your logic, there's a conflictual relationship between my client and Chen Wei?"
Zhang Cheng was about to answer but suddenly stopped.
He stared at Xu Liang, unable to speak for a long time.
If he answered 'yes,' the mysterious case from seven years ago becomes real.
If he answered 'no,' then there is no conflict; what's there to talk about regarding intentional murder under the opponent's mental illness!?
'Damn, where the hell did this lawyer come from...'
Zhang Cheng cursed repeatedly in his mind.
The opponent was even harder to deal with than a damned plaster!!!
Thinking for a long time, he gritted his teeth.
"Only the parties directly involved know!"
"Opposing counsel, please answer my question first!"
"Why was the defendant holding a knife at 10 p.m. outside!?"
Judge Zhao Yi intended to pound the gavel to maintain order.
But upon considering the 17-year-old plus the mental illness, he sighed internally.
'Forget it, let's move straight into the debate phase.'
Zhao Yi put the gavel down, furrowing his brows and attentively watched the two.
At this moment, Xu Liang stood up leisurely.
He didn't rush to reply to Zhang Cheng's question but raised the third document.
"Honorable Judge, I've already addressed opposing counsel's question earlier."
"The reason the defendant held a sharp weapon at 10 p.m. lies in the mysterious case seven years ago!"
"This is the second document I found while investigating Chen Dong's mental illness."
"Namely, the DNA test report from the Chen Qingqing humiliation case seven years ago!"
As the words fell.
The whole room suddenly fell silent, everyone looking up at the item in Xu Liang's hand.
Especially Zhu Hong.
"No... no way, how is this still around!?"
Prosecutor Zhu Hong was instantly stunned, instinctively exclaiming.
Zhang Cheng: ?
Zhang Cheng almost spat out a mouthful of blood, he shot Zhu Hong a look wishing he could eat him alive.
"Shut up, don't speak." he gritted his teeth and spoke.
As he turned back, he suddenly noticed Zhao Yi glancing at them, Zhang Cheng felt a chill in his heart.
"Defense, please continue speaking." Zhao Yi said calmly.
"Alright."
At the moment Xu Liang handed the evidence to the clerk, his gaze suddenly became sharp, staring straight at Zhang Cheng.
"Our side believes..."
"Defendant Chen Dong was harmed by the deceased Chen Wei seven years ago, hence suffering psychological trauma!"
"Holding a sharp knife is a phenomenon of self-protection; the wear on this knife completely shows it's been carried for years."
"It's merely because the deceased Chen Wei wanted to harm the defendant, triggering the illness, leading to the death."
The knife wasn't just taken on June 1st.
The fact is, this knife has been with Chen Dong for at least four years, ever since Chen Qingqing's death, he's been carrying it!
And the reason Xu Liang brought up Chen Qingqing...
"Based on the above, we believe, in this case, our defendant Chen Dong is not guilty of intentional murder, but rather..."
Xu Liang's eyes flashed, he played his third card, and loudly said:
"Self-defense!!!"