"Should we... hurry and raise another one?" he wondered, observing the cautionary tale unfolding in the live-stream projection. He couldnât help but swallow nervously, muttering to himself. In old age, having descendants to dote on and share familial bliss with is indeed a great happiness. But the greatest fear... is the misfortune of raising an unfilial child.
ăMeanwhile.ă
In Jin City, at the Legal Pioneer Law Firm.
These excuses... they have some substance,
Zhang Wei stared intently at the four defendants in the dock, mumbling to himself. Actually, upon hearing the defenses from Jiang Daping and his three siblings, he couldnât help but feel a surge of anger. But beyond his anger, he quickly calmed down.
Though seemingly shameless, these excuses were all closely related to whether they had fulfilled their filial duties in daily life. In modern life, the pace is ever-increasing, and work pressure mounts. Work commitments, misunderstandings, conflicts, and financial situationsâthese are all objective reasons. Itâs understandable if one cannot always be present to show filial piety to the elderly. From this angle, it provided grounds for the court to exercise discretion, potentially leading to the dismissal of the abandonment charge.
I just donât know if Wang Dachui can withstand their counterattack,
he pondered briefly, his gaze returning to Wang Dachui. This time, Wang Dachui was facing four opponents alone; the pressure was immense. Even with Qin Muâs help, it was bound to be a grueling battle!
BANGâ
On the live-stream screen, in the courtroom.
After Zhou Quanmin listened to the four defendantsâ statements, Chen Sheng spoke, "Based on the statements of the four individuals, let us now summarize the main points of dispute in this case. The plaintiff argues that the actions of Jiang Daping and his three siblings constitute the crime of abandonment, while the defendants deny that any abandonment occurred. The subsequent proceedings will focus on determining whether an act of abandonment took place and whether the crime of abandonment has been established."
After summarizing, he continued, "Next, we will proceed to the evidence presentation and cross-examination phase."
Adjudicating a case requires careful consideration of evidence. Civil litigation demands evidence, and criminal litigation demands it even more so. This particular case was a private criminal prosecution, meaning the evidence was primarily collected by the parties themselves.
As soon as Chen Sheng finished speaking, Wang Dachui quickly stood up and said earnestly, "Judgment Chief, fellow judges, our evidence is primarily divided into three categories. The first category consists of evaluations and testimonies regarding Jiang Daping and his three siblings from neighbors, fellow villagers, and elders." As he spoke, he submitted a series of testimonies his side had collected. There were also several witnesses present in court, such as Jiang Dapingâs maternal second uncle, third aunt, and fourth great-uncle. Qin Mu and he had specifically invited all these people. Beyond the testimonies of neighbors and villagers, the accounts from Feng Cuihuaâs other relatives were considered even more persuasive.
Soon, several witnesses entered the courtroom one after another and took their places on the witness stand.
Seeing this, Zhou Quanmin asked in a solemn tone, "In your experience, how have Jiang Daping and his siblings typically treated their mother?"
This case involved a private criminal prosecution, necessitating a comprehensive examination. Testimonies from neighbors, villagers, and relatives could all serve as supplementary references for the court.
"Judge, those four brats are truly awful! My older sister is such a good woman, yet she ended up with these animals!"
"When she had surgery last time, I called the four of them so many times, but not a single one showed up."
"They havenât given her any money, nor have they ever come home. If it werenât for my sister having a bit of pension money, how could she possibly have held on until now?"
"I watched them grow up. When their father was dying, he worried they wouldnât be filial and asked me to help look out for them..."
"..."
The witnesses exchanged glances. Then, one after another, they pointed at Jiang Daping and his siblings, cursing them vehemently without restraint. Their tones were harsh, and they all felt a great injustice had been done to Feng Cuihua. Not a single one spoke in defense of Jiang Daping or his siblings.
"Jiang Daping, Jiang Erping, Jiang Sanping, Jiang Siping, do you have any rebuttal to these testimonies?" Zhou Quanmin asked, turning his gaze back to the defendantsâ dock after listening.
These testimonies... all relentlessly attacked the unfilial actions of Jiang Daping and his siblings, as if they were whipping corpses. But as the judge, he had to consider all sides, remain objective and fair, and not be swayed by one-sided accounts.