Many in the defendants' dock already had ashen faces and had bowed their heads.
They seed to have given up resisting.
BANG—
In the courtroom, Zhou Quanmin struck the gavel and asked, "Defendants, do you have any new statents regarding the accusations brought forth by the plaintiff's lawyer?"
He had witnessed the entire court defense. He had seen the "efforts" of Cheng Chuxiao and the other seventeen.
Unfortunately, these efforts were in vain.
The facts of the cri were established, beyond dispute. They had never presented any new, constructive views that could overturn the current legal proceedings.
Seeing that the seventeen defendants remained silent, he glanced at the ti and said solemnly, "In that case, the free debate segnt concludes. We shall now move to the final statent phase."
The final statent is a unique phase in criminal proceedings. It gives the defendant a last chance to speak, to declare innocence or admit guilt. The collegiate bench would also consider the final statents, any expressions of remorse, and other factors in determining the sentence.
"Let's start with Cheng Chuxiao."
He glanced at the defendants' dock and directly designated the first speaker.
In the defendants' dock, Cheng Chuxiao appeared sowhat nervous at being called to speak first. Her speech was sowhat halting. This was a stark contrast to her deanor when she had confronted Qin Mu at the nursing ho.
"Please make your final statent," Zhou Quanmin said, looking at her and reminding her again.
From the defense counsel's table, Zhang Wei looked at her, lowered his voice, and nodded. "Just follow the statent we prepared."
As their defense lawyer, he had already arranged everything and prepared the final statents for Cheng Chuxiao and the others.
Although Qin Mu had been relentless this ti… as long as she followed the statent, the worst that could happen was that they wouldn't secure a reduced sentence. After all, the outco was already set; it couldn't get any worse.
"I... I-I..." Cheng Chuxiao stamred, opening her mouth and glancing again at Qin Mu and Zhang Qingyuan at the plaintiff's table. She felt an incredible sense of sha. She had already apologized before, but Qin Mu still wouldn't let her go. And the final statent Zhang Wei had prepared for her was almost entirely apologies and admissions of wrongdoing. It even required her to admit she shouldn't have equated dogs with people, a notion she found utterly repulsive and resisted.
If she could avoid jail ti… she could endure this humiliation, choose to apologize, and bow her head. But Qin Mu clearly had no intention of letting her off, nor could she obtain any reduction in her sentence.
Then…
"I believe I've done nothing wrong, nor am I guilty!"
She clenched her teeth, staring fixedly at Qin Mu, and uttered words that made everyone in the courtroom turn their heads.
As soon as she spoke, Zhang Wei's expression subtly changed again. He was certain that was definitely not the first line of the final statent he had prepared! It was Cheng Chuxiao improvising!
Seeing this, he could only desperately try to signal Cheng Chuxiao with his eyes, coughing subtly in an attempt to make her stop.
But Cheng Chuxiao completely ignored him, utterly oblivious to his cues.
Instead, she kept her gaze locked on Qin Mu, articulating every word. "In this matter, I am the victim! My dog was killed by them. Why is everyone blaming ?"
Her face was a mask of grievance and anger. Since the trial began, she had felt as though the whole world was against her.
"I am the victim!" she exclaid. "They… how are they victims? Is so-called cyberbullying just a few harsh words online? They haven't lost a single hair, but my Binbin was cruelly killed by him! No matter how you look at it, does he bear no fault at all?!
"If he's not at fault, why are all the netizens talking about him and no one is criticizing ? The eyes of the public are clear and sharp!
"I implore the court to administer justice impartially, to clear my na, and to grant justice for my Binbin!"
As she spoke these words, her emotions were incredibly agitated, her chest heaving violently. After speaking, she felt the stifling pressure in her chest ease, and she felt much more comfortable.
She had been bottling up these words for so long, she had nearly suffocated.
However, as she returned to her seat, she noticed Zhang Wei and the others looking at her strangely. Zhang Wei's expression was complicated, while Han Tianming and the others looked shocked.
"Next, Han Tianming."
In the courtroom, Zhou Quanmin frowned slightly but otherwise showed no reaction.
Han Tianming swallowed hard. He braced himself, stood up, and began, "Honorable Judgnt Chief, esteed judges, concerning this matter… I deeply realize my own errors."
He didn't dare to emulate Cheng Chuxiao. Instead, he conscientiously followed the final statent Zhang Wei had prepared. Regardless of whether he could argue for a suspended sentence, at this mont, his attitude had to be impeccable.
"In this matter, I overlooked the fact that a dog is rely property; it does not possess the sa value as a human being. I should not have allowed my emotions regarding it to beco so exaggerated as to infringe upon the lawful rights of others and cause them irreparable harm."
He raised his head, looking at the others in the courtroom, his attitude one of utter sincerity, hoping his deanor would appeal for a more lenient judgnt.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Chuxiao, who was right next to him, glared at him furiously. "What in the world is wrong with you? Aren't you a pet blogger? You used to post all sorts of advice on pet care online every day. How could you say such things? Are you even human?"
She stared at Han Tianming in disbelief, her eyes filled with disappointnt and confusion. Han Tianming was a blogger on a certain platform, and she often read his articles.
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