In Judge Demps' office, Lu Ming, Reno Jr.'s defense attorney Richard, and Booker's defense attorney Hancock were all sitting in front of the judge's desk.
As the opening statements were about to begin, Demps called the prosecution and defense to hear their strategies.
"Well, Mr. Richard, you want to plead not guilty?" Judge Demps did not look surprised.
He was an old man with a hooked nose, and looked very arrogant, but he had great respect for Richard.
Richard nodded slightly and looked at Lu Ming: "Of course, Lawyer Lu, we can also make a deal that is in the interests of both parties."
Judge Demps nodded: "Good luck to you then."
If the prosecution and the defense can reach a plea deal, the lengthy trial process can be avoided. For him, this will naturally be a good thing to reduce his workload, especially since this case has attracted so much attention.
On the other side, Hancock spread his hands and said, "I also hope to reach a deal with the prosecution, but the conditions given by the prosecution are too harsh. They must make my client go to the gallows."
Demps looked at Lu Ming and said, "Do you know that if Booker pleads guilty, then the next dozen cases will be much easier? They will all be convicted quickly!"
Lu Ming nodded: "I know, but as the principal offender of these cruel cases, I don't think he is entitled to any forgiveness. Moreover, we have sufficient evidence. Whether Booker pleads guilty or not, I am confident that he will be convicted."
Hancock snorted coldly: "Is life imprisonment a form of forgiveness? I don't think so! For a free man, this is the worst punishment. The death penalty should be abolished. Our laws prohibit killing, but we have the death penalty. It is not legal!"
Dempsey listened, and although he said nothing, there was approval in his eyes.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "That's a pity. Your client was born in the East China Sea where there is the death penalty. Next time, I hope he was born in Kenya and killed Mr. Hancock's parents, wife and children, and then Mr. Hancock will forgive him." He was too lazy to reason with the abolitionists.
In the entire empire, only one state, Kenya, has abolished the death penalty, and it is also one of the core autonomous states of the Westerners.
"I object!" Hancock immediately widened his eyes.
Dempsey also frowned slightly: "Lawyer Lu Qianxing, I hope you will be careful with your words."
Lu Ming spread his hands and stood up: "I have nothing more to say, goodbye!" He turned around, opened the door and left.
Demps's face was gloomy.
Richard stood up with a smile, while Hancock was mumbling something.
But without the prosecution present, the two defense lawyers had no reason to remain in the judge's office, as it would be easy for them to be used against them.
…
"Lawyer Richard, I have always admired you."
At the corner of the corridor, Lu Ming was waiting for Richard, smiling and extending his hand.
Richard was slightly surprised and stretched out his hand to shake hands with Lu Ming.
"Don't you want to make a plea deal with me?" Lu Ming asked with a smile.
"No, no, it's not a plea bargain." Richard smiled, "I hope Lawyer Lu will amend the charges. Otherwise, Lawyer Lu, you will get nothing."
"What do you mean?" Lu Ming smiled.
"My client has serious mental problems and is suffering from torture. He cannot be the initiator of these terrorist incidents, nor does he have the ability to do so. If Lawyer Lu insists on defining my client as the first defendant, then when he is acquitted, it will seriously affect the reputation of the prosecution in this case. Then, it will be difficult to convict the real thugs! Lawyer Lu, you don't want to see such an outcome, right?"
As he spoke, Richard waved his hand, and the assistant next to him ran over, took a document from his briefcase and handed it to Lu Ming.
"Lawyer Lu, this is the witness list I just updated. I was just about to give it to you!"
Lu Ming took over. The witness list did not change much, but a psychiatrist named Walker was added. Judging from the research institute he worked for and a series of titles, he should be an authority in psychiatry.
"Mental illness!" Lu Ming frowned, and although his forehead quickly relaxed, this small detail was still noticed by Richard.
"Lawyer Lu, I wish you good luck, but I still look forward to seeing you correct your mistakes!" Old Richard smiled slightly, raised his hat, turned and left.
…
As soon as he walked down the steps of the court, Cantona rushed out of the car excitedly and ran up two steps: "Commissioner, we found it. The glass bottles containing the brains that Booker mentioned have been found and are now being sent to the forensic office..."
Lu Ming nodded: "There must be little Renault's fingerprints on it."
"Ah? If that's the case, that's great!" Cantona was delighted.
"Maybe, it proves that little Renault is a mental patient!" Lu Ming shook his head and walked towards his car.
"Mental illness?" Cantona was stunned.
…
The Golden Mike Hotel is a five-star hotel in the West District, very close to the First Circuit Court. Today, the special case team has moved here.
The fact that Secretary McCann approved the funding actually surprised everyone in the task force.
This case is undoubtedly the most high-profile case of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office in recent years, and necessary logistical support is necessary, but a five-star hotel booked the most luxurious suite with a conference room as a temporary strategy room? This is too much.
Lu Ming was not surprised. In Chief McKen's opinion, this might be his last act of willfulness.
Today, the cheers in the strategy room were quickly interrupted by new news from the court.
Originally, after various investigations, the task force finally found a breakthrough. According to a servant's account, they found a secret apartment where Little Renault had hidden the victim's brain. Moreover, the glass bottle was covered with Little Renault's fingerprints.
However, Commissioner Lu brought back attorney Richard's defense strategy, that little Renault was a person suffering from severe mental illness.
This is nothing strange. For many murderers, the first strategy that defense lawyers think of is to use mental reasons to defend them.
But the problem is, racial hatred, how can you convince the jury with such an excuse
But when everyone calmed down, they re-examined the confession and all the evidence involving little Renault.
But I was surprised to find that it seemed to make sense to say that little Renault had a mental illness.
Every murder of the victim was planned by Booker. Although Renault Jr. also participated in several murders, his confession showed that he could not remember what happened at the time. This can be completely attributed to the fact that when he was killing people, he became mentally abnormal under certain environmental stimulation.
They also have the perverted habit of collecting brain matter and sleeping with it.
In particular, as a mentally ill person, he could not have been the mastermind behind these cases.
The charges brought by the prosecution would appear ridiculous.
There was no evidence to prove that he was planning these vendettas. In his confession, Booker admitted that he was the mastermind behind all the cases.
Booker deposited cash into Booker's account every time. According to him, it was all the inheritance left by his father.
His father was indeed once a wealthy businessman who ran a small handicraft business. However, after some Middle-earth merchants joined the competition in this market, his father went bankrupt and shot himself. It was logical for him to hide some cash for his son.
A small amount of cash was indeed found in the bank safe that Booker had indicated was the inheritance left to him by his father, which he had almost spent.
All in all, it is difficult to associate Renault Jr. with words such as "planner" and "main culprit".
However, Commissioner Lu has always insisted on prosecuting Little Renault as the principal offender.
Although Jordan supports Commissioner Lu's view that Little Renault must be one of the organizers, he also believes that based on the existing evidence, it is difficult to convict Little Renault of the charges.
And now, it seems we are in big trouble.
No one knew that after Lu Ming returned to his room and made a few phone calls, his expression became increasingly indifferent.