Chapter 85: Hobert’s Assault

Chapter 85: Hobert's Assault

patreon.com/KeyofStars

At around nine in the morning, as a young judge in his late twenties took his seat at the bench, the Bruce murder case officially began.

Hobert felt the pressure emanating from the judge. He suspected this judge might be a genuine "Judge," coming to court just to act the part.

The prosecutor spoke first, listing Bruce's crimes: "…The defendant threw about 8 pounds of explosives into Mr. Wyatt's yard.

"Before the trial, I consulted experts, and they confirmed that 8 pounds of gunpowder could collapse Mr. Wyatt's house, causing a catastrophic disaster while they slept.

"Additionally, the large explosion could affect Mr. Wyatt's neighbors, causing varying degrees of injury, and potentially triggering a fire with more casualties.

"Your Honor, we believe the defendant's actions severely endangered the lives and property of dozens of citizens. This is a clear case of explosive crime and attempted murder!

"The prosecution rests."

The judge said, "Now the defense may speak."

Hobert, dressed in a black barrister's gown and wearing a wig, rose and said, "Honorable Judge, esteemed spectators, I never imagined that the prosecution could make such an absurd statement!"

As soon as he said this, the relatives of the Wynatt family in the audience stirred, some even muttering curses under their breath.

The judge said to Hobert, "Defense counsel, watch your language."

"Your Honor, I'm only stating the facts," Hobert continued. "The evidence provided by the prosecution is right there on the table before you. I believe they've already confirmed that the fuse was nothing more than twisted paper. Even if it were lit, it would barely reach the bomb, and the fuse wasn't even connected to the explosives; it was merely glued to the bomb's exterior.

"Everyone, can such a bomb even explode? No matter how powerful the gunpowder is, this bomb simply wouldn't detonate!

"More importantly, Mr. Bruce didn't even light the fuse, which means he had no intent to commit a crime, nor did he treat the gunpowder as a real bomb.

"I must remind the prosecution that explosive crime is a specific dangerous crime. Unless the plaintiff can provide evidence that this bomb was certain to detonate, or that Mr. Bruce intended to trigger the explosion, their accusation lacks specificity. Therefore, the explosive crime charge doesn't hold!

"And if the explosive charge doesn't hold, then neither does the charge of attempted murder. That's why I find the prosecution's argument utterly absurd!"

The gallery immediately erupted with curses from Wynette's family and friends, while Bruce's friends and family cheered and jeered.

The judge lightly tapped his gavel. "Order! Defense counsel, do you have anything further to say?"

Once the room quieted down, Hobert replied, "Your Honor, the defense rests."

The prosecutor then spoke again, reiterating the dangers of the explosives and their instability, maintaining that the gunpowder posed a threat to the lives and property of the Wynette family.

When it was Hobert's turn to speak, he smiled and said, "Your Honor, prosecutor, shall we conduct an experiment? Let's throw this piece of evidence at me and see if I die from the explosion?"

Hobert keenly exploited the flaw in the explosive crime charge, forcing the prosecutor to shift tactics. "Your Honor, it's possible the defendant acted in a crime of passion, which is why the fuse wasn't properly handled. But the moment the defendant threw the bomb into Mr. Wyatt's yard, he committed the crime of intentional harm!"

This was a retreat from the explosive crime charge, now focusing on the "defense line" of attempted murder.

"Prosecutor, let's consider a hypothetical," Hobert said. "What if I shouted, 'I'm going to kill you!' and then threw an unloaded gun at you—would you also claim that I'm guilty of attempted murder?

"Mr. Bruce may have had a grudge against the Wyatt family, but he didn't take any effective action. Ladies and gentlemen, since when did holding a grudge against someone warrant a prison sentence of 20 years or more?"

(If convicted of attempted murder, Bruce would face at least 20 years or life imprisonment.)

Hobert then questioned the prosecutor, "Are you trying to strip people of their right to feel emotions? Even demons and evil gods aren't this cruel. What gives you the right to do so?"

Hobert's brilliant thought experiment and defense sparked applause and cheers from the gallery.

The prosecutor began to falter under Hobert's "assault." "Defense counsel, please stop twisting the facts. The defendant resented the Wyatt family and threw a bomb at them. The cause-and-effect relationship is undeniable.

"Are you suggesting that throwing a bomb into someone's yard is not a crime?"

"Guilty, of course, it's a crime," Hobert said.

Everyone was a bit shocked by this answer, with a few gasps heard in the gallery.

However, Hobert continued, "Mr. Bruce's crime is the purchase and possession of dangerous goods. According to the relevant statutes, he should be fined between 10 to 30 pounds and be detained for more than fifteen days but less than three months.

"As for throwing a bomb at the Wyatt family, that's a completely baseless accusation! That object can't even be called a bomb, and Mr. Bruce had no intent to kill, so the charge of attempted murder simply doesn't stand!"

At this point in the trial, Hobert's defense of innocence was practically secured. The prosecutor could no longer mount an effective "assault" in the following exchanges.

On the gallery side, Bruce's family and friends began to smile, while the Wyatt family and friends grew more solemn.

During his closing statement, Hobert said, "Your Honor, while this case appears to be a debate over a model bomb, it actually represents the dwindling tolerance of Backlund's citizens. If my client is truly imprisoned for a mere prank, the open and inclusive spirit of the Loen Kingdom will suffer a severe blow!"

These words moved the judge. Finally, it was time for the verdict.

"The prosecution has not provided sufficient evidence to prove the defendant's intent to kill, nor has it established a concrete case of dangerous crime. This court rules that the prosecution's charges of explosive crime and attempted murder are not valid.

"However, due to the defendant's purchase and possession of dangerous goods, and considering the serious nature of the situation, a fine of 30 pounds and three months' detention is imposed!"

Bruce's family and friends breathed a sigh of relief. A 30-pound fine was not much to them, and three months wasn't a long time. This outcome was far better than a conviction for attempted murder.

Mr. Wyatt, sitting in the plaintiff's seat, was unsatisfied with the result, loudly declaring his intent to appeal. The judge paid him no mind, gathering his files and slowly leaving the bench.

At this moment, Hobert was in a peculiar state. The judge's verdict seemed to echo back to him, reinforcing how he had skillfully navigated the legal loopholes in the prosecution's case.

As the ruling was completed, Hobert seemed to hear a faint sound of shattering, and at that moment, he felt both his body and spirit elevated.

The "Lawyer" potion had been completely digested.