Chapter 286: Chapter 125: Come on, let's see into the future.
Chapter 286: Chapter 125: Come on, let's see into the future.
Disagreements between lawyers and prosecutors about what constitutes a crime and the appropriate sentencing severity are all too normal.
Although the criminal law is there, how facts are determined and laws are applied will certainly differ among individuals, which is normal.
Otherwise, there would be no point in having a trial.
However, Lawyer Tang found it unreasonable to use sentencing recommendations from plea bargains to threaten defendants.
In the end, it's about some prosecutors being too dominant, not wanting to see lawyers who dare to confront them.
But Old Tang was not afraid of these tactics—he walked a straight and honest path!
Fu Qiuhua didn't know what to say. If it were a local lawyer, it might have been one thing, but an out-of-town lawyer really could ignore these pressures, not to mention that Tang Fangjing was famous for his boldness and fearlessness.
Seeing the two arguing, Li Huaiqing hurriedly said, "Lawyer Tang, Lawyer Tang, I'll listen to you, I won't sign it, I won't sign it."
He had indeed been somewhat persuaded, but quickly realized that Lawyer Tang truly wanted to help him!
A renowned lawyer on the Internet, and no need to pay? Where else would you find such a good person!
Fu Qiuhua glanced at Li Huaiqing and then said, "Okay then, let's leave it at that."
"So the prosecutor's interrogation of the suspect is over, right?" Old Tang asked as usual.
"It's over." Fu Qiuhua said, staring at Tang Fangjing in front of her. Find adventures at ???
Old Tang then took Li Huaiqing and left immediately. With the situation like this, there was no point in staying any longer.
Outside the prosecutor's office, Old Tang said to Li Huaiqing, "I told you before, now you've caused this scene. Forget it, remember if you're summoned again, don't make any promises, absolutely don't admit guilt, understand?"
In practice, there's no specific regulation on whether defense lawyers can argue for innocence after a client admits guilt in a plea bargain—even the article by the deputy prosecutor that Old Tang had cited was merely an article, not an official regulation.
The gist of that article was that a defense attorney's argument for innocence after a plea bargain should not affect the court's sentencing based on the plea.
In other words, the defense attorney arguing for innocence is their own business; the court cannot deny the plea bargaining sentencing recommendation simply because of an innocence argument.
What the sentence should be is what it will be.
However, the situation differs from place to place. Facing a dominant prosecutor, the belief is that once the lawyer signs, it indicates acceptance of the plea bargain.
If subsequently the defense argues for innocence, the plea may be directly retracted.
Some judges also directly ask the defendant whom to listen to...
Therefore, Old Tang had to reiterate his advice to avoid the possibility of the client impulsively pleading guilty during the trial.
Li Huaiqing hastily nodded and said, "Lawyer Tang, I'll listen to you, I'll listen to everything you say."
After parting ways, Old Tang returned to the hotel. For him, this incident was merely a minor interlude—he had seen too many fickle clients in his previous life. This was child's play to him.
In fact, clients like Chi Yan and Zhao Lixiang were ideal.
Old Tang didn't pay any more attention to the matter, while on the other side, Dong Liping received a call from the prosecutor's office.
"Prosecutor Fu, hello, I've never discussed forgiveness with the family, not at all. It was just after the incident occurred that Li Huaiqing's wife came and left some money."
"Yes, she never showed up again afterwards. Prosecutor Fu, he must be sentenced. My son still can't get up, this injury could affect his whole future!"
After hanging up the phone, Dong Liping's face grew even darker. The other party didn't admit guilt and hadn't sought reconciliation actively, which was unbearable to her.
After much thought, she decided to expose the matter online!
By doing so, she could also influence the case through public opinion, hopefully securing a heavier sentence for the other party!
Having made her decision, Dong Liping began contacting the media, typically local outlets.
In an office building in Dongfang City, Zheng Lingfen, who had just turned thirty this year, was looking at private messages in the platform's backend. Her "Afen's Help" was considered one of the larger people's livelihood programs among self-media in Jiangguang.
She usually reported on various social issues, of course, with fees depending on the situation.
If it was a highly engaging and attention-drawing issue, there would be no charge, purely for the sake of web traffic.
But for less significant matters where people only needed to protect their rights, she would charge for reporting.
At that moment, she saw a private message about a drunk jumping from a car, causing serious injury, and that a public prosecution had already been initiated!
Yet the person responsible for the injury hadn't come to visit or take care of anything—it screamed hot topic.
She quickly made a phone call.
"Hello, is this Ms. Dong? I'm from Afen's Help. Could you explain what happened in detail? Yes, we might be able to cover this."
The two soon began to negotiate, and Zheng Lingfen felt this story really had potential!
Netizens generally sympathize with the underdog, which is why many trending topics involve the oppressed.
Not to mention that this case was truly compelling: a young person with a severe head injury that could affect their entire life.
Add a little dramatization about how poor and miserable the family is, sprinkle in some additional details, and the buzz is guaranteed. She was clear on how to play this angle!
Regarding the other aspects, she was aware that once a case was before the court, it was pretty much set in stone.