Song Tiancheng lowered his head, then suddenly looked at Qin Mu, who was driving.
"It all depends on the lawyer’s defense strategy," Qin Mu replied while driving. "As long as we base the defense on the right to complete self-defense, there’s a good chance."
This case is quite special, he thought. It’s not purely a case of causing death by negligence. There was a clear cause. It was a tragedy provoked by excessive indecent behavior during wedding hazing. As long as the defense revolves around the right to complete self-defense, criminal liability could largely be avoided. Regarding civil compensation, although it will be necessary, we could strive for the minimum amount. Additionally, the bridesmaids can also choose to report it to the police, demanding that the young people involved in the wedding hazing be investigated for indecent assault. This charge... In fact, when Qian Jiang and the other police officers arrived, he could have chosen to report it then. The actions of those young people involved in the hazing fully t the criteria for filing an indecent assault case. But he had considered that all the bridesmaids seed emotionally distressed at the ti, so he didn’t act on his own initiative. After all, this could affect their reputations. If he helped report it, he might have ended up doing a thankless job.
「The next day.」
In Jin City, at the Legal Pioneer Law Firm. It was eleven o’clock in the morning.
"Next," Zhang Wei called out towards the door after finishing a legal consultation with a client.
Soon after, a young man and woman, holding a number ticket, walked into the room. They appeared a bit stiff and sowhat apprehensive.
"Don’t be nervous. Are you facing so sort of difficulty?" Zhang Wei asked gently, looking at the two.
Ever since his law firm had beco popular, he had to et with many people seeking consultation every day. These people, more or less, all faced legal disputes, most of them criminal.
"It’s like this, we... our friend killed soone and was arrested. We want to ask Lawyer Zhang to help arrange bail pending trial," the young woman said, biting her lower lip as she explained their purpose.
"Killed soone... and was arrested?" Zhang Wei’s expression changed slightly, and he instinctively pushed his chair back half a step.
He had handled many cases before. Murder cases... he had hardly encountered any. The only one that involved a fatality was that ti Qin Mu and Liang Chengbin acted heroically to apprehend a fugitive, which resulted in a death. But that was an accident. What this young woman was talking about... was being arrested for murder!
"If it was intentional murder, then it’s not possible to arrange bail pending trial," Zhang Wei said solemnly, taking a deep breath.
"No, she... she didn’t kill intentionally, she... she..." the young woman quickly shook her head.
Zhang Wei frowned and asked, "Then was it... involuntary manslaughter?"
"No, it’s like this. We got married yesterday..." the other young man began with a wry smile, then recounted the entire incident.
During the wedding hazing, a folding knife had been pulled out, resulting in one death and three injuries.
After listening, Zhang Wei couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.
This case... was clearly no small matter.
"If that’s the case, then her actions were likely a stress-induced reaction, not subjectively preditated murder. It could be classified as excessive defense."
Then, Zhang Wei looked at the two and asked, "Are you hoping to get her sentence reduced? If so, there’s a good chance of that."
According to his judgnt, this wasn’t purely intentional murder. It could be classified as causing death by negligence, punishable by a fixed-term imprisonnt of three to seven years. Furthermore, if the wedding hazing behavior could indeed be proven to be extrely excessive, it would be possible to argue for a reduced sentence based on excessive defense. The prison term would likely be between three to five years. If there were other mitigating circumstances... he was even confident he could get it down to three years!
"So, she still has to go to prison?" the young couple asked, clearly unsatisfied with this outco.
"This case involves serious harm and a death. Three years... is already a very good outco," Zhang Wei reminded them earnestly.
But the young woman couldn’t help but say, "But... Uncle Qin told us to find you. He said you could help with a defense for acquittal."
Zhang Wei paused. "Uncle... Qin?"
He ntally reviewed all the elders he knew but couldn’t recall anyone with the surna Qin. To be called ’Uncle’... they’d surely be in their seventies or eighties. He didn’t think he knew anyone in that age group.
"Yes, Uncle Qin said your defense skills are excellent and that there’s a good chance of success if this case is defended based on the right to complete self-defense," the young woman added, lifting her head. She was Peng Songyue. Early that morning, she and Chen Zishi had taken a bus to Jin City and found Zhang Wei’s law firm. And now, after finally getting their turn, Zhang Wei was saying the sentence could only be reduced to three years!
"The right to complete self-defense?" Zhang Wei echoed. Reminded of this, he quickly understood.
Indeed. If the case centered on the right to complete self-defense... there was room to maneuver. But the right to complete self-defense requires an occurring violent cri. Behavior like wedding hazing is difficult to link directly to violent cri.
"This is a video and so photos Uncle Qin asked to bring," Peng Songyue said, taking out the items Qin Mu had entrusted to her and handing them to Zhang Wei.
After Zhang Wei finished reviewing the materials, his expression shifted subtly. He fell into a brief contemplation, apparently pondering the case.
After a long mont, he spoke seriously, "Indeed, the defense in this case can revolve around the right to complete self-defense. There’s a chance for an acquittal."
The wedding hazing behavior in the video... was truly excessive. Clothes ripped, hands groping everywhere. Committing indecent acts as a group in a public place—the circumstances were extrely serious. This already constituted indecent assault.
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