Free Web NovelChapter 369: Chapter 369 Pure Psychopath_1
Several days later, Silvertown, courtroom.
A trial was in progress.
"The defense has no objection to the charges brought by the prosecution, and now, based on the facts and laws of this case, presents the following defense arguments..." the defendant’s lawyer stood at his place, speaking loudly, "First, although the defendant indeed robbed valuable property, she did not engage in any violent acts beyond the robbery itself, which constitutes a lesser degree of crime. Second, after the defendant was arrested, she demonstrated a willingness to confess, according to the provisions of Article 66, Clause 3, of the Criminal Law..."
Although the lawyer was simply appointed as the criminal legal aid for the defense, he still faithfully fulfilled his responsibilities, aiming to mitigate the sentence as much as possible and defending the accused.
As he read the prepared defense, the blonde girl stood emotionlessly in the dock, who, not long ago, had suddenly snatched a pedestrian’s handbag on the street and sprinted away, causing quite a few bystanders to chase after her.
However, the girl clearly lacked judgment, as the spot where she stole the bag was only three hundred meters in a straight line from the police station. To make matters worse, less than a hundred meters away in the direction she fled, two police officers were chatting on patrol—and even more foolish than choosing such an apparent escape route was her decision to run straight into one of them.
When her lawyer asked about the incident, she replied, "I just wanted to knock him over so I could run past."
The defendant’s lawyer immediately determined that the defendant was not only lacking in judgment but also in common sense. The two police officers at the scene, one of medium build and the other weighing over a hundred kilograms and as sturdy as a bear, were both ready to arrest the robber after hearing shouts to catch her. Yet this girl... boldly chose to collide with the more challenging of the two. free𝑤ebnovel.com
The outcome was predictable; she was immediately subdued by the two officers and then taken directly to the police station.
Since she was caught red-handed, attempting any kind of innocence defense was utterly nonsensical. However, because she did not knock over the officer, the defense lawyer had more room to negotiate, hoping to secure probation for her as long as the act didn’t constitute assaulting an officer.
And if she didn’t commit any offenses during probation, the defendant wouldn’t have to go to prison, which, to a certain degree, was a very good outcome.
"...the defendant is an orphan with no relatives. She drifted alone to this city, helpless and unsupported. It was a lapse in judgment that led her down the wrong path. Her crime certainly warrants punishment, but her subjective malice cannot be equated with that of habitual thieves. In determining the sentence, should her circumstances not also be taken into account? The prison is full of recidivists and habitual criminals. Sending her straight to jail warrants consideration of whether being influenced by these offenders could lead her utterly astray."
The defense lawyer played the emotional card, but suddenly the defendant turned and said, "No, that’s not right! I committed a crime, and I deserve the punishment of going to jail!"
Taken aback by the interruption, the defense lawyer was momentarily confused, thinking to himself that he had indeed told her to show a repentant attitude, but surely she didn’t need to interrupt his speech to do so?
"Order!" the judge promptly pounded the gavel, "Defendant, this is not your time to speak. Defense counsel, please continue."
The defense lawyer, resuming his closing argument, said, "Taking into account all the points mentioned, the defense believes that the defendant, Sera Rekhsia, has committed a minor offense, shown sincere remorse, and as a first-time and occasional offender, meets the requirements for probation under the Criminal Law. We hope the respected jury and Your Honor will consider and accept this, granting the defendant probation to encourage her to actively engage in self-reform, conscientiously repent and start anew. This will also prevent the possibility of cross-infection among criminals in prison, contributing to the development of society."
Only after the defense counsel finished speaking did the judge give the defendant the opportunity to speak: "Defendant, do you have anything to add?"
"I don’t want any suspended sentence! Lock me up! Are you kidding me? How can you achieve the purpose of punishment if you don’t imprison me?" the defendant Sera Rekhsia shouted excitedly, "Let me go to jail, I’d rather reform in prison!"
The defense attorney thought to himself that this young lady really came through at the crucial moment. At times like this, to pull off an act of self-flagellation and go against all expectations—she even seemed quite convincing, albeit a bit over-the-top, but no big deal.
What gratified the defense attorney was that, in the subsequent courtroom debates, the defendant still insisted that she didn’t deserve a suspended sentence. Her radically remorseful attitude had clearly made a very profound impression on both the judge and the jury.
Afterward, the jury retired for secret deliberations following the judge’s standard summary and legal instructions, then came back with a guilty verdict—the defense attorney wasn’t surprised. If the girl had a seriously ill relative, he might have been able to argue that she committed the robbery to raise money for medical expenses, even appealing to the jury’s sympathy by playing up the emotional angle despite her getting caught red-handed.
However, since the girl was just an orphan with neither kith nor kin, immediate release was completely unrealistic. He could only strive for a suspended sentence, which now depended on the judge.
He glanced at the defendant, who was also visibly nervous, staring at the judge with burning intensity. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
After a long while had passed, it finally came to the most crucial part—the judge’s verdict.
"I will now announce the verdict..." the judge declared in a solemn voice, "The court sentences the defendant Sera Rekhsia for the crime of robbery to three years in prison, suspended for five years..."
The defense attorney internally exclaimed in relief. This verdict was exactly what he had worked hard to achieve. Having secured a suspended sentence, he had fulfilled his duty successfully—
But at that moment, Sera on the defendant’s bench suddenly widened her eyes and shouted at the judge, "Damn! A suspended sentence!? Are you actually giving me a suspended sentence? What kind of joke is this!? You’re not imprisoning a street robber?"
"Are you crazy!?" The defense attorney was completely dumbfounded this time.
Had the girl gotten too deep into her role that she continued the act even after the verdict?
The judge’s face turned dark quickly, and he issued a warning with his gavel, "Defendant, I warn you, if you continue to disrupt the court’s order—"
"Then will you let me go to jail?" Sera asked with unexpected joy, her eyes wide open, "Great! Let me go to jail now!!"
The judge was stunned on the spot, while the defense attorney stood petrified and speechless.
At that moment, the defense attorney suddenly felt a profound sense of defeat. He hadn’t realized that this girl wasn’t just slightly off her rocker—she was truly a lunatic!
