The Mad Prosecutor Picked Up AI - Chapter 58
Only Noblemtl
Episode 58 Request for change of indictment
I turned my back on the stuttering Moon Seong-jae and looked at Judge Hong Sang-jin.
“Your Honor. I submit evidence that proves that the crime scene was on the third floor, not the first, and that this bloodstain occurred when Private Seong Jun-ho died.”
“Z, evidence? What evidence?”
Moon Sung-jae shouted with a face that looked like it was about to become neurotic.
“Shall I say it again? Are you deaf? Listen carefully.”
I said it again, straightening my mouth and exaggerating the shape of my lips like a trainee announcer.
“The fact that the crime scene was on the 3rd floor, not the 1st, and that there were bloodstains at the time of Seong Jun-ho’s death… … .”
“No, I’m not asking because I don’t know.”
“No? Then why did you ask?”
“What are you going to do if you keep pushing this inconclusive evidence?”
“We are going to win this trial.”
“… … .”
A deep sigh came from somewhere, and when I turned around, Judge Hong Sang-jin was looking at me and Moon Seong-jae. Judge Hong Sang-jin motioned to the two of us without saying anything.
As we approached, Judge Hong Sang-jin glared at me with a blank expression.
“Prosecutor. I clearly said earlier that I hoped there would be no more surprise shows.”
Hey, Your Honor. That’s why I called you ‘respected’. You have to be a little lenient on this.
I spoke as if I were an apostle of justice, with my face as innocent as possible.
“Your Honor. This is crucial evidence that can reveal the truth of the case. It is a video recording of the last moments of Sung Jun-ho, who died unjustly.”
“… … !”
At the mention of the recorded video, Judge Hong Sang-jin and Moon Seong-jae looked at me at the same time.
“A video?”
“yes.”
“Oops, the source is unclear. Illegally obtained footage has no evidentiary value.”
As expected, Moon Sung-jae started to nitpick.
“Why do you think the source is unclear? It is a video that was accidentally taken without the consent of the person involved, but it was obtained with the consent of the person who filmed it.”
“There’s no way that could happen!”
“Can’t you tell just by looking at it?”
“Your Honor!”
“Your Honor!”
When we both called out at the same time, Judge Hong Sang-jin closed his eyes tightly. He held out his palm as if telling us to be quiet, and then pressed his temple with his thumb for a moment.
After a while, Judge Hong Sang-jin opened his eyes and looked at me and said.
“Will that video be decisive evidence to reveal the truth about Seong Jun-ho’s case?”
“yes.”
“… … Let’s take a look first and then decide.”
“Your Honor!”
Moon Seong-jae tried to protest, but Judge Hong Sang-jin firmly cut him off.
“Even though it is evidence that suddenly appeared, if it can reveal the truth of this case, I think it should be cited. If the lawyers also have new evidence that the scene of the incident was on the first floor or that Sung Jun-ho fell, please bring it whenever you want. I hate surprise shows, but I guess I can’t help it in this trial.”
We each returned to our seats. I handed the video file to the court officer, who played it. The video began to play on the large screen in the courtroom.
* * *
A few days ago, in the elite academy building.
“What are you guys doing?”
“Eww.”
I was startled by the sudden voice and turned around to see a female student wearing a school uniform and carrying a bag looking at us.
“Who are you?”
“I’m a student.”
“What if you suddenly appear like that? I was surprised.”
“It wasn’t all of a sudden. I was watching it for a while.”
“Just now? When?”
The schoolgirl pointed at me with her hand.
“Since that guy on the first floor started doing squats like a loner.”
“Phew.”
He glared at Wi Jun-woo, who hurriedly covered his mouth, for a moment before speaking to the female student.
“What is a loner? To adults.”
“Anyone can tell that I’m a total loner. I took a picture. Should I show you? Your posture is a mess, and your butt is also out. It looks like you took a shit.”
“Hey, why are you taking pictures of other people? Without permission. That’s illegal, Inma.”
“It’s not a photo, it’s a video.”
“That’s why. Taking pictures without permission is illegal.”
The schoolgirl shrugged her shoulders as if it was no big deal.
“It’s a habit.”
“Do you have a habit of taking pictures?”
“Not just anything. I take pictures of things that are a bit weird, funny, or out of place. Not pictures, but videos.”
I was looking at him in disbelief when Wi Jun-woo intervened.
“So, you took a picture of that guy because he seemed like a loner?”
“It was actually weird and fun at the same time. The biggest thing was that I felt like an outcast.”
Whether it’s the teacher asking the question or the student answering it.
“I’m sorry. I’ll erase it. You don’t have to look at me like that.”
“Why are you here? The academy is closed right now.”
“I didn’t know. No one told me.”
“Are you being bullied?”
“yes.”
Since you answered ‘yes’ so easily, I didn’t really have anything else to ask.
“You get bullied because you just take pictures all the time.”
“I take pictures of them because I’m an outcast. I don’t have anyone to hang out with. And it’s a video, not a photo.”
“… … .”
“But, who are you, sir?”
“I’m not a sir, I’m a prosecutor.”
“What are you doing here, inspector?”
What is it? The conversation was flowing naturally, but there was no progress at all. Wei Jun-woo, who had been keeping his mouth shut for a while, asked the female student with a strange expression.
“Excuse me. Do you have a future dream of becoming a prosecutor?”
“no.”
“Really? That’s too bad. With your personality, you’d be a good prosecutor. I know a prosecutor just like you.”
Wi Jun-woo looked at me sideways and said. I felt bad because it seemed like he was holding back laughter. The female student took out her cell phone without caring whether we were checking or not.
“I’ll erase what I just took.”
“Oh, wait a minute.”
“why?”
“Mister, please check to see if it’s really being erased.”
Wi Jun-woo said that and stood next to the female student.
‘What? Was Wi Jun-woo that meticulous?’
[What a very happy face?]
As I was looking at it because it seemed strange, Wi Jun-woo seemed to want to see the video the female student had taken. Wi Jun-woo, who was looking over the female student’s shoulder at her cell phone, burst into laughter with a face that said he couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Hey. The student wasn’t lying. He really came across as a loner.”
“Right? That’s what I said.”
“Isn’t this the right way to take a shit?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“Wait a minute. Instead of deleting this, send it to my phone. I’ll have to look at it whenever I’m stressed out.”
No, these people!
Wi Jun-woo took the female student’s cell phone and tried to send the video to his own cell phone.
“Chief. What are you doing now?”
“Sir, can’t you make this much of a concession for the sake of employee welfare? Unless you’re going to show off your loner pose in real time every day?”
“I never gave permission for that video. It’s illegal.”
Wi Jun-woo did not give in to my threats and spoke while fiddling with his cell phone.
“So, please give me permission.”
“Am I crazy? Delete this right now. I’m suing you for this.”
“!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Junwoo’s face hardened. I thought he was joking, but was it too much?
“Chief. Are you mad? I’m joking. I’m joking. Can’t we even joke around like that? Relax. If you want, I can show you in real time. Okay?”
As I was sticking my butt out to show off some squat moves, Wi Jun-woo looked at the female student and became serious.
“You, what is this? This video?”
“hmm?”
The female student looked at the video that Wi Jun-woo was pointing at and spoke in a calm voice.
“This was taken here a few days ago.”
“Hey, did you take a picture of this?”
“Someone stuck gum on my clothes. I took it off in the bathroom and took a picture.”
“Why did you take the picture?”
“It just felt a little weird. Sorry. I’ll delete that too.”
“No, no. I don’t have to erase it. So you can’t take videos of other people without permission. You can’t. This is… … .”
“What is it? What is it?”
Wi Jun-woo handed me the female student’s cell phone. The screen showed two male students beating up a male student. The male student who hit his head on the window frame and fell down was Sung Jun-ho.
…
“So, what we said didn’t make sense?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Where did this kid rebel, huh?”
When Lee Seung-ho kicked his stomach, Sung Jun-ho folded in half and cried out in pain. When Min Jong-guk’s foot flew into his side again, Sung Jun-ho hit the wall and fell to the floor.
“Hey, wake up.”
Min Jong-guk kicked Sung Jun-ho again as he lay there. Sung Jun-ho shook his body several times but was unable to get up and just lay there.
“Stop joking and get up.”
Min Jong-guk grabbed Sung Jun-ho’s hair and pulled it. Sung Jun-ho had no choice but to groan and barely managed to get up.
Min Jong-guk, who was looking at her swollen eyes and bleeding mouth while holding her hair, said, “What bad luck.” and pushed her head back while holding her hair.
Seong Jun-ho hit the window frame behind him with a loud thud and fell to the floor as if he was collapsing.
“I know how to die once more.”
Min Jong-guk kicked Sung Jun-ho’s stomach and back, who had fallen again. He had been shaking or groaning before, but now he couldn’t hear anything. Lee Seung-ho, who was next to him, gently pushed Sung Jun-ho with his foot.
“Hey, wake up.”
“… … .”
“Get up, kid.”
I kicked him again, but Sung Jun-ho didn’t move at all.
“Did you faint?”
“You weakling.”
Min Jong-guk, whose interest had cooled in the meantime, took out his cell phone and started giggling while looking at something. Lee Seung-ho knelt down next to Sung Jun-ho, shook Sung Jun-ho, slapped him, and then rolled his eyes. Lee Seung-ho called out to Min Jong-guk, who was looking at his cell phone.
“Jongguk, come here. This guy is acting a little strange.”
“It’s weird because he’s a weird kid.”
“That’s not it. This kid… … I think he’s dead?”
Only then did Min Jong-guk look up from his cell phone. Min Jong-guk frowned and came closer, looking down at Sung Jun-ho who was lying still.
“Do people die that easily? Listen to their heartbeat. Put your hand on their nose to see if they’re breathing.”
When Seungho Lee, who had been touching Min Jongguk’s chest and putting his ear to his hand as he had been told, opened his mouth again, his voice was slightly trembling.
“Hey, this is really weird. He’s not breathing. I think he’s, like, dead.”
“Hey, what are you talking about? Get out of the way.”
Min Jong-guk pushed Lee Seung-ho away and began to examine Sung Jun-ho’s body. After a while, Sung Jun-ho also stood up from his seat.
“Hey, sir… … .”
Seeing that sight, Seungho Lee spoke in a trembling voice.
“Ah, 119. Let’s call 119.”
“Are you crazy, Seungho Lee?”
Seong Jun-ho stopped Lee Seung-ho from taking out his cell phone.
“What’s the point of calling 119? Why don’t you just go to the police and turn yourself in?”
“You don’t know yet… … You might survive. Well, if you take emergency measures… … .”
The two of them stared at Sung Jun-ho, who had collapsed for a moment. Soon, Min Jong-guk picked up his cell phone and dialed a number.
“Call 119?”
“This is not the time to call 119.”
“then?”
Min Jong-guk, who had been holding his cell phone to his ear without answering, opened his mouth.
“Dad? It’s me. Dad. I think I killed someone.”
…
The large screen was frozen on Min Jong-guk calling his father, Min Chi-seung. It was a bit far and dark, but the emergency lights were on in the hallway, so he could see that the two people were Lee Seung-ho and Min Jong-guk.
The courtroom was quiet. You could hear a pin drop. The silence was broken by the occasional muffled sobs of Sung Jun-ho’s aunt.
The lawyers were all dumbfounded, as if they had not expected such decisive evidence to emerge. Min Chi-seung, in particular, looked as if his soul had left him.
If it were any other time, I would have been whining about how the video was manipulated or that the person on the screen wasn’t Min Jong-guk. But it was so unexpected and shocking that I couldn’t even think about defending myself.
With Min Chi-seung, the leader, absentmindedly absentmindedly, the rest of the corps was also quiet. What good would it be if there were only six lawyers? They were all useless.
I jumped up from my seat and looked at the judge.
“Your Honor, I request a change to the indictment.”
Looking into Judge Hong Sang-jin’s calm eyes, I spoke with strength.
“Based on the new evidence, I would like to change the charge in this case from manslaughter to aggravated assault resulting in death. Please allow me to change the indictment.”