A police officer took out a transcript and held it in front of Xu Wendong for a mont, his expression blank: "Xu Wendong, your fingerprints and signature are on this. Do you still want to retract your confession?"
"I..."
Xu Wendong was truly bewildered.
He was sure he hadn’t signed or sealed it, but the signature was indeed his handwriting, and the fingerprint was identical to his own.
"What exactly happened in the past few days?"
"Could it be my mory has been altered or extracted?"
Xu Wendong felt a chill down his spine.
This was the first ti he felt fear and unease since arriving in Lianyun County. It was an unpleasant feeling.
Just like that.
Xu Wendong, handcuffed and shackled, was escorted into a police car and then taken to the Lianyun County People’s Court for trial.
There weren’t many people in the court.
However, he did spot a familiar face, Wang Wei, whom he had t once before. Wang Wei sat in the audience with a knowing smile on his face.
Besides him, there were the relatives of the four victims, crying and wishing they could tear Xu Wendong into pieces.
Of course, Xu Wendong also noticed Bai Lu, her face full of anxiety. She too had co to the court but seed unsure of how she could help Xu Wendong.
However, Xu Wendong remained calm, quietly led to the defendant’s seat, and had his shackles secured to the floor to prevent him from escaping.
The presiding judge sat in the middle of the judges’ bench, looking expressionlessly at Xu Wendong: "Xu Wendong, do you have any objections to your case?"
Xu Wendong sat there silently, with an indifferent posture: "I’ve said that all my actions were in self-defense. Even if I killed soone, it was justified!"
Wang Zhengjun said coldly: "Xu Wendong, you clearly already signed and sealed your confession. It’s best not to imagine you can retract it now, as such behavior can be seen as a challenge to judicial authority."
Xu Wendong turned to look at him with a simple glance that made Wang Zhengjun’s heart tremble. It seed he hadn’t expected Xu Wendong’s gaze to be so fierce.
Xu Wendong shouted: "Judge, I do not deny that I killed the four attackers because everything I did was in self-defense, and my injuries also align with self-defense."
"Furthermore, I never signed a confession admitting to preditated murder."
Wang Zhengjun questioned loudly: "If you didn’t admit to preditated murder, why would you sign and seal it?"
Xu Wendong sneered: "I was also puzzled before. Clearly, I hadn’t signed or sealed it, so why were my na and fingerprints on the transcript?"
"Actually, the answer isn’t difficult. You could have easily found a talented forger to imitate my handwriting."
"I have to say, that forger did such an impeccable job that even I was fooled when I saw it."
Wang Zhengjun continued: "Even if what you say is true, how do you explain the fingerprints? That’s sothing that can’t be fabricated, right?"
Xu Wendong’s smile didn’t change: "Fingerprints can’t be fabricated, but you’re the police. Is it hard for the police to collect soone’s fingerprints? Once you had my fingerprints, how hard could it be to create a fake one?"
"And."
"You claim I signed and sealed it. Where’s the video evidence of that?"
"These days you need video evidence to handle a case, right? Otherwise, this transcript isn’t legally binding, and with no legal binding, you can’t judge ."
Wang Zhengjun was so angry his jaw clenched. He didn’t expect Xu Wendong to be so troubleso. He snorted: "Judge, Xu Wendong is extrely guilty with irrefutable evidence."
"Multiple eyewitnesses saw him committing the cri; this case has no doubts, and he already signed and sealed his confession."
"We hope you hand down a heavy sentence and provide the public with an answer!"
"Provide justice for the four victims and their relatives!"
Several judges on the bench exchanged glances and whispered to each other, after which the presiding judge stood up and loudly declared: "I hereby announce the verdict regarding Xu Wendong’s charge of preditated murder."
"The verdict is as follows: Xu Wendong murdered in public, using extrely cruel thods, causing extrely negative impacts."
"According to the law, Xu Wendong is guilty of intentional homicide, deprived of political rights for life, and sentenced to death, to be executed in six months!"
"This judgnt takes effect imdiately. If you have objections, you may appeal to the Interdiate Court within ten days!"
As soon as these words were spoken.
Bai Lu turned pale, feeling as though all strength had been drained from her, her worst fears having co true!
Although Xu Wendong could appeal after receiving the judgnt, she didn’t think he could change the final outco. After all, Lianyun County’s deep-rooted corruption started from the very bottom.
Even appealing was in vain.
As for Wang Wei and Wang Zhengjun, both had sinister smiles on their faces, satisfied with the verdict.
Yes.
Even though Xu Wendong could appeal, they had a way to prevent him from receiving the judgnt notice or delay it beyond ten days.
By then.
Even if Xu Wendong wanted to appeal, he couldn’t change the final outco.
In six months, his day of death would arrive!
Xu Wendong’s face was ashen, revealing no emotional fluctuation.
But inside, he was extraordinarily disappointed.
Not because he feared death, for he knew that even if he were sentenced, Elder Fang would try every possible way to spare him.
What disappointed him was failing to awaken the public’s conscience.
He was so determined to kill publicly in hopes of breaking the darkness and corruption of the officialdom, allowing the people to lead better lives.
But...
His passionate fervor had been betrayed!
He truly was unwilling!
And just as the presiding judge prepared to announce the adjournnt, the courtroom door swung open, followed by a loud voice: "Why is Xu Wendong being sentenced to death if it was self-defense?"
Upon hearing this, everyone furrowed their brows. They didn’t expect soone to appear at this ti.
When Bai Lu saw Sun Zhaoqiang, she inhaled sharply.
The seemingly nondescript, gray-haired old man was now in a neat police uniform, exuding an aura of authority without anger.
Especially in his eyes, there was a cold sharpness, a sense of righteousness that made him seem like a completely different person from before.
But.
Why was he appearing in court now?
Wang Zhengjun looked at Sun Zhaoqiang in disbelief, never expecting his subordinate, who had taken a dical leave, to show up in court in uniform.
After all, he had been on dical leave for two years.
After the shock, he angrily asked: "Director Sun, what do you an by that? Are you saying I extorted a confession and turned black and white?"
"You say Xu Wendong acted in self-defense; do you have evidence?"
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