In the reception room of the general manager's office, Barber listened in a daze as Lu Ming talked about Field's case, and he had a vague illusion that he had met his former mentor.
"We issued an order in June this year to lift the state of war in major cities. From common sense, it is difficult to convict people for atrocities committed during a state of war. The other party's defense lawyer can use Field's mental state and other factors to defend himself. And I estimate that the other party's lawyer will definitely apply for a jury trial, because the jurors will all be our Sonya soldiers, and they will naturally stand on Field's side."
"It seems that we are at a great disadvantage, but this case cannot be viewed purely from a legal perspective. General Dönitz hopes to show goodwill to the people of the state through this case. The other party's lawyer will get a hint, so he may try to put Field in jail for a few months."
"Our goal is to put Field in prison for more than ten years. Personally, I hope his sentence is more than 20 years."
Barber was stunned.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "This requires your hard work!" and patted his shoulder.
"As I said before, it seems difficult to convict him, due to psychological factors and the so-called war situation. However, he did not commit just one atrocity. This was the only one involving a military family. He raped and killed civilian girls. There are more than a dozen cases for which evidence has been collected. He was even brought to court by a brave local lawyer, right?"
Barber nodded slightly. He knew about this matter and also knew that this lawyer was very powerful. He even forced the puppet court of the princely state to summon Field. However, Field never appeared in court. Later, the lawyer drowned after getting drunk, and the case was left unresolved.
Lu Ming said: "You can take these dozen cases to our military court to prove that Field is actually a demon. The so-called state of war cannot be a fig leaf for him."
Barber smiled bitterly: "But sir, this case has not been adjudicated by the court, so it cannot be used as evidence, right?"
Lu Ming said: "Just let the jury see the evidence. I have collected the case files for you. They are all the evidence that the reporter originally collected, including many cruel photos. Show them to the jury and make them forget their identities as native and Sonya people. Influence them and let them imagine how cruel it would be if these were their sisters, wives and daughters."
Barbour nodded silently.
Lu Ming added: "Of course, the other party's lawyer may use the principle of prohibiting double jeopardy to prohibit the presentation of this evidence in court."
The so-called principle of prohibiting double jeopardy means in plain words that there should be no second trial for the same case and no second judgment for the same matter.
Barber was stunned: "But the court has not yet made a ruling, and the trial procedure has just begun. It does not violate this principle, right?"
Lu Ming smiled and said, "If it were a senior lawyer, he would definitely cite this principle, because double jeopardy is never based on a court ruling. Instead, as long as the judicial process creates a danger to the defendant, the defendant should not be in danger a second time. In this case, the court has summoned Field, and the outside media has also made a big fuss about it, which poses a danger to Field."
Barber suddenly realized and said with a wry smile: "I think I need to study civil law seriously."
Lu Ming nodded: "The other party is also a military lawyer. I am afraid that he can't think of this principle, but I will find a way to enlighten him."
Barber was stunned and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "We need to make him think that according to this principle, the evidence we cite in those cases will not be presented in court at all. In this way, he will be very sure and will not make sufficient preparations on how to deal with the evidence presented in court. Only then can we kill him with one strike."
Looking at Barber, Lu Ming continued, "The point we are fighting about is whether the military court belongs to the normal judicial system. In fact, we have independent trial institutions, separate prisons, and separate punishment standards. In the Western Regions, except for large cities, everything is still in a state of war. In fact, from any perspective, the judgments made by our military courts are a kind of military order, which is independent of the judicial system. Therefore, although the local court has formed a dangerous relationship with the defendant, the trial of our military court does not involve the principle of double jeopardy, but uses the procedure of military orders to punish officers and soldiers who violate our military regulations."
Barber was sweating all over his head after listening to this. It took him a while to finally understand what the commander-in-chief was saying.
Is this how a lawsuit is fought? All kinds of traps are set, and those traps are only effective if the other party is a senior lawyer, because a senior lawyer can think of a seemingly brilliant countermeasure after the other party makes a move. If the other party is not a senior lawyer, the other party will have to remind the other party, hey, you have a trick.
However, this seemingly brilliant move was actually a trap within a trap that sent the opponent into hell.
Barber was sweating all over, feeling as if his previous world had been turned upside down and he had come to know a whole new world.
Lu Ming added: "After this case, I think the Supreme Court will interpret the law to incorporate the military court system into the judicial system, and our military legal procedures will be further improved, but that is a matter for the future. At least for now, the principle of prohibiting double jeopardy cannot be introduced into our trials. However, let's study it out."
Barber immediately nodded repeatedly, convinced, and listened to Lu Ming's explanation, asking questions like a primary school student on a pilgrimage.
It was already dark when the two finished. Lu Ming nodded with satisfaction. This Barber had a good understanding.
"I have to hurry back to have the New Year's Eve dinner. This case will be after the New Year. During this time, you can just digest what I said. Well, Happy New Year!" Lu Ming patted Barber on the shoulder.
Barron looked at Lu Ming eagerly, wanting to say something.
Lu Ming smiled and made a zipper gesture at his mouth.
Barron nodded repeatedly: "General, I know, I know!"
Lu Ming smiled slightly: "Okay, you are welcome to come and chat with me often in the future. However, when it comes to law, I only have these three tricks, which I learned from the masters."
Barron nodded: "Yes, I understand!"
…
In the military camp's confinement room, the small hard bed and the toilet were together, and with Bone Spear Luo's huge body, it was difficult for him to turn around inside.
The door was opened and the guard left, and Lu Ming could only stand at the door and talk to him.
"Basically, I think the sentence could be more than ten years, maybe even longer. I know you want his life, but don't rush it. He will be locked up in the military prison in the Western Region. Let's take our time. There will be opportunities in the future. Now, is your life in exchange for his life? Is that what your sister wants to see?" Lu Ming said as he handed over a paper bag. "Think about it carefully. Here, New Year's Eve dinner. I have to go home to eat it too!"
Indeed, if I don’t go back to Shengjing, I will miss my real reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve.
As for what he brought to Gu Mao Luo, it was naturally top-quality steaks and good wine. Although it was not his authentic century-old Maka brandy, it was a blend of some of the same ingredients, but it definitely tasted much better than top-quality brandy worth hundreds of dollars.
Over there, Bone Spear Luo nodded silently, and soon, the iron door was slammed shut tightly.
Bone Mao Luo opened the paper bag, inside was a large piece of steak and a bottle of brandy, looking carefully at the logo, this bottle of brandy was actually the legendary Maga brandy, but it was probably an imitation. I heard that the authentic version of this wine was gone, and the last bottle was drunk as a prank by the former emperor of the empire before his death. But later, somehow, the treasure was discovered in an abandoned wine cellar. No one knew how many bottles were mixed with it, but it was simply a priceless treasure. The richest people in the empire offered tens of thousands for it, but they couldn't find a way to buy it.
The alcohol bug had long been wreaking havoc in his body. Gu Mao Luo bit off the cork from the bottle and spit it aside, then tilted his head back and gulped down the wine.
Suddenly, Gumao Luo froze in his tracks, stood still, picked up the wine bottle and looked at it carefully, his eyes filled with surprise.
Next, I wanted to find a wine glass, but after looking around, I couldn't find one. I could only take small sips, but my eyes became brighter and brighter.