IWT 01

 Chapter 01

“결정적인 증거와 목격자가 없으므로 피고인의 무죄를 주장하는 바입니다.”

“Since there is no decisive evidence or eyewitness, we claim the defendant is innocent.”

“말도 안 돼.”

“That’s nonsense.”

The lawyer finished his statement, and quiet sighs spread through the courtroom.

Everyone’s resentful eyes turned toward the man sitting in the defendant’s seat.

The man sat with his head lowered, not moving at all. But the faint smile on the corner of his lips was chilling and disgusting.

“저 새끼가 범인이야! 범인이라고!”
“That bastard is the culprit! He’s the murderer!”

At that moment, someone in the audience shouted in anger, as if speaking for everyone.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

“Order! Order! Prosecutor, please give your final statement.”

Taejun slowly stood up from the prosecutor’s seat and looked toward the audience.

The victim’s mother and her family were there, crying endlessly as if they had lost everything in life.

The bitterness in his mouth made Taejun unconsciously frown.

The victim was crying while the criminal was smiling.

Three years as a prosecutor. This was a situation he should have gotten used to by now.

But he still couldn’t accept it.

Especially when he saw someone like that man.

“존경하는 재판장님. 마지막으로 증인을 신청합니다.”
“Your Honor, I would like to request one final witness.”

The courtroom suddenly became noisy.

“Your Honor! We cannot accept a witness that was not discussed with us beforehand!”

The surprised defense lawyer ran forward and shouted.

“이 증인은 이번 사건의 결정적인 목격자입니다.”
“This witness is the key eyewitness of this case.”

As Taejun insisted more strongly, the smile slowly disappeared from the defendant’s face.

“Permission to call the witness is granted.”

The judge accepted the request after thinking for a moment.

The defendant, who had been looking down, slowly raised his head.

His eyes were full of murderous intent, glaring at Taejun as if he wanted to kill him immediately.

“Your Honor, according to Criminal Procedure Law Article 165 Clause 2, I request remote testimony to protect the witness.”

Taejun spoke confidently while staring straight at the defendant.

“Permission granted.”

The atmosphere of the cold courtroom suddenly heated up.

“And I also request permission to conduct the questioning by voice only, not video.”

“If you use a screen filter, video should be fine. Is there a special reason it must be voice only?”

The judge looked confused while checking the documents.

“Just a moment.”

Taejun walked closer and handed the judge a small note.

“…Alright. Permission granted.”

The judge read the note slowly and nodded.

Equipment for remote testimony was soon installed in the courtroom.

Cameras allowed the witness in the next room to see the courtroom in real time, and speakers were installed to transmit the witness’s voice clearly.

It looked almost like preparing for a live broadcast.

“Everything seems ready. Prosecutor, please begin the witness examination.”

The judge’s heavy voice signaled the start of the trial again.

“Witness, can you hear me well? Or rather, can you see me clearly?”

Taejun spoke calmly but with determination while looking at the camera.

But no sound came from the speaker.

“Witness, can you hear me? If you can hear me, please answer.”

Taejun’s voice slowly became anxious.

What if the witness had changed his mind?

“Did you even prepare a witness? If you’re just wasting time, stop immediately. The truth won’t change. Your Honor, the prosecution is deliberately delaying the trial.”

The defense lawyer, who had been nervous earlier, now smiled confidently.

Of course. He had confirmed again and again that there were no witnesses at the crime scene.

This sudden witness must be a cheap trick by Taejun.

“Prosecutor, can you proceed with the examination?”

The judge asked impatiently.

“Please wait a moment. Witness! If you can hear me—”

[“…Yes. I can hear you.”]

A slightly trembling young man’s voice finally came from the speaker.

Taejun let out a deep sigh of relief.

“증인, 힘든 결정 해주셔서 감사드립니다.”
“Witness, thank you for making this difficult decision.”

But the defense lawyer suddenly shouted.

“Are you really a witness to the incident that day?!”

Taejun ignored him and walked to the center of the courtroom with a thick case file.

“Witness, you came here because you saw the murder that happened on November 14, 2018, at the abandoned factory in Eunhyeon-myeon, Yangju. Is that correct?”

[“Yes.”]

“Then did you see the defendant sitting over there at the scene?”

[…“Yes.”]

The courtroom buzzed again.

“Then can you explain in detail what you saw that day?”

[…]

Silence followed.

“Witness?”

Taejun swallowed nervously.

“Witness, can you hear—”

[“Near the abandoned factory, there’s a small fishing spot called Doha Reservoir.”]

The trembling voice returned.

Taejun felt relieved again.

“Please take your time. Just tell us exactly what you saw that day.”

The tension felt like walking on thin ice.

[“I often go to a nearby empty lot to fly my drone. That day I saw the defendant sitting alone at the fishing spot.”]

“How can you remember the defendant so clearly?”

[“It’s a remote place where almost no one goes. Seeing someone fishing there alone felt strange, so I remembered him clearly.”]

“Was he actually fishing?”

[“No. He left the fishing rod there and kept looking around the factory before entering the abandoned factory.”]

“So did you directly witness the murder?”

“Objection, Your Honor! The prosecutor is asking leading questions based on unconfirmed facts.”

The defense lawyer interrupted angrily.

“Objection sustained. Prosecutor, please be careful.”

Taejun nodded.

“Then let me ask differently. Did you hear a scream from the factory or see the defendant carrying something suspicious, like a weapon?”

[“I didn’t hear any sound… but I think I saw him carrying something.”]

“씨발! 개소리하지 마! 저거 지금 다 거짓말이야!”
“Bullshit! Stop talking nonsense! That’s all lies!”

The defendant suddenly jumped up, knocking over the speaker and shouting.

“Defendant! What are you doing in court? Officers, handcuff him!”

The judge shouted urgently.

“Let go! If you really saw me kill someone, show your face and say it!”

The courtroom froze as the defendant struggled wildly like a beast.

“Be quiet. If you cause trouble again, you will be removed from the court. Defense, begin cross-examination.”

The lawyer’s face was twisted with frustration.

“At what time did you see the defendant?”

[“Around 6 PM.”]

“6 PM? Are you certain?”

The lawyer’s expression slowly relaxed.

But Taejun felt uneasy.

[“Yes.”]

“Sunset in Yangju on November 14 was at 5:21 PM. The witness claims he saw the defendant at 6 PM, in a dark area with no CCTV and not even a streetlight. How can this testimony be trusted?”

The lawyer waved his documents toward the camera.

[“No, I definitely saw with my own eyes—”]

“Not your personal belief. Show us solid proof.”

[…]

“That’s all.”

The lawyer returned confidently to his seat.

The defendant’s unpleasant smile slowly returned.

People in the courtroom lowered their heads in despair.

Then—

[“제가 봤어요!”]
“I saw it!”

The voice suddenly came from the speaker.

“What did you see?!”

Taejun rushed toward the camera.

This might be the last chance to win the case.

[“칼이요. 저 사람이 어디다 칼을 버렸는지 봤어요.”]
“The knife. I saw where he threw the knife.”

The defense lawyer panicked.

“Your Honor! The witness is lying!”

But the voice continued.

[“공장 지붕 빗물받이 통에 칼 던져서 숨기는 거 제가 똑똑히 봤어요.”]
“I clearly saw him throw the knife into the factory roof gutter and hide it there.”

The defendant suddenly exploded.

“다 거짓말이야! 너 이 새끼 죽여버릴 거야!”
“It’s all lies! I’ll kill you!”

He rushed forward and kicked the speaker and camera like a mad beast.

“Officers! Remove the defendant from the courtroom!”

The judge shouted.

The courtroom turned into complete chaos.

At that moment, Seongjin rushed into the courtroom, breathing heavily.

“Sorry I’m late.”

He handed Taejun a document envelope.

Taejun opened it quickly.

A smile spread across his face.

He clenched his fist.

“Order! Order! We will postpone the trial to the next—”

“잠시만요, 재판장님. 여기 결정적 증거가 있습니다.”
“Wait, Your Honor. We have decisive evidence.”

The courtroom instantly fell silent.

All eyes turned to the envelope in Taejun’s hand.

The defense lawyer tried to protest.

But Taejun spoke first.

“이 봉투 안에는 범행에 사용된 칼과 DNA 감식 결과가 있습니다.”
“Inside this envelope is the murder weapon and the DNA analysis results.”

The lawyer collapsed into his chair.

“And the results match the defendant with 99.99% certainty.”

Taejun handed the evidence to the judge.

The defendant, being dragged away, had lost his disgusting smile.

His face was now twisted with fear and confusion.

“그래, 너한텐 그런 표정이 어울려.”
“Yes… that expression suits you.”

Taejun muttered quietly as he returned to his seat.

“I will now deliver the verdict.”

The judge’s voice echoed in the courtroom.

“피고인은 형법 제250조 살인죄에 의거하여 무기징역에 처한다.”
“The defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment for murder under Article 250 of the Criminal Law.”

A heavy silence filled the room.

Then applause and cheers erupted from the audience.

Among them, Chief Choi stood up with a tired sigh.

He walked toward a girl sitting quietly at the end of the audience.

“이번에도 고생 많았다.”
“You worked hard again this time.”

Chaerin bowed slightly and stood up.

With a cold expression, she quietly opened the courtroom door and walked out.