Dear Lawyer

7- Hearing (ii)

Joshua Dale was brought up to court at 10 a.m. Unlike everyone else, he was made to sit within a square transparent booth covered with bulletproof glass.

This wasn't his first time sitting in the dock. The case had been ongoing for some time. The hearings had been held on and off several times, but he still couldn't make sense of these legal procedures.

"Where's the jury? Why is there no jury?"

Joshua scanned the entire room. This pretty much summed up his understanding of court proceedings.

There were two wardens from the detention centre each standing on one side of him. Both of them had stern faces as they stared straight ahead, exuding a strong oppressive air.

One of them heard him. He gave a short sneer and mumbled from between his lips, "Why would there be any need for a jury here?"

Regarding matters like bail, a judge was sufficient.

Joshua's expression turned ugly. This didn't sound like good news to him, because a judge obviously wouldn't like him.

In all honesty, many people wouldn't like him. He had a gloomy, harsh appearance, and a bad temper. He wasn't likeable at all. But if there was a jury, at least he could have a faint glimmer of hope.

"Bail is tough, really tough," Joshua murmured.

The two wardens behind him exchanged a look.

This was actually a major misunderstanding. In fact, getting bail was simple. It was just that his previous lawyers never took his case to heart and didn't even deign to come down to Wine City; there wasn't anyone who cared enough to help him.

And in a place like Wine City, if no one stood on the suspect's behalf, the review officer couldn't be counted upon to take the trouble to apply for bail for the suspect. They would prefer suspects to stay locked up in the detention centre or prison for the rest of their life, bringing them less trouble.

However, those two wardens didn't intend to explain this to Joshua. They simply shrugged and let him continue in his misunderstanding.

Joshua looked at the defence table with great reluctance. 'I knew it! Liar! You're just another liar...'

He saw that Lawyer Jeon, who had vowed to get him out, was simply sitting by idly with his hands in his pockets, whereas Jimin, the young lawyer who had followed behind Jungkook, was now in the driver's seat.

God knows if he has graduated yet, Joshua thought spitefully and despondently.

He watched that young lawyer's mouth open and close as he made a statement to the judge, but not a word went into his ears.

What did the prosecutor say next over there? He hadn't listened to it, either.

He was so nervous and angry that he felt he was going to puke.

"Am I going to be detained again?" Joshua's face was pale.

Those two wardens were more than happy to reply to this question. "Yeah, of course."

Joshua lowered his eyes and buried his head into his arms. He no longer held onto any hope...

But what he didn't know was that Jimin, who was behind the defence table, didn't feel that there was any issue securing bail at all, and even planned to make this hearing quick. However, it was now the prosecution's time to yatter.

"...he doesn't have a guardian, so no one is able to restrain his actions. Past behavioural records have shown that he has moderate mania, as evidenced by the attached medical evaluation on page 18. I trust the lawyers present have also read through all the evidence and should be well aware of this as well."