Too Bad I Take Things Seriously-Chapter 482 - 203: This Game’s MVP, Ma Ming!_3

In summary, Tian Shulan must go to prison today!

"If she really can be sentenced, Ma Ming’s contribution today is indispensable. He’s truly exceptional, clearly having learned from the best."

"So handsome! A real man goes to court and sends his classmate’s wife to prison!"

"Then the question arises: Shi Liangping barely spoke during this trial. Should we still pay his attorney fees?"

"This is the least noticeable lawyer I’ve ever seen."

"..."

In the class group chat, all the classmates were very excited. It proved that studying law is useful; it could send a classmate to prison, and even his classmate’s wife.

If it weren’t for Ma Ming’s intervention, turning the tide like he did... Meng Lei and Tian Shulan, husband and wife, could have truly been separated for over a decade!

Meanwhile, in the courtroom, after Ma Ming spoke, Tian Shulan’s defense attorney was clearly thrown off his game.

The joint crime Ma Ming suggested perfectly met the constituent elements. A joint crime does not require the instigated person to lack criminal intent. It refers to a group of two or more people jointly benefiting from illegal and criminal activities.

Combined with Tian Shulan’s actions of instigation, tacit approval, failure to dissuade, and joint spending of the fraudulently obtained money, there were almost no refutable loopholes.

THUD—

The Judgment Chief struck the gavel.

After both parties had questioned and rebutted all evidence, the next phase, open debate, began.

During the open debate, Ma Ming looked at the thick stack of notes in his hand and continued to perform exceptionally, looking like he was about to clinch the MVP title for this lawsuit.

"Our side contends that Meng Lei repeatedly defrauded others of their property, illegally possessed it, and refused to return it. Tian Shulan, through her actions of instigation, acquiescence, and failure to dissuade, should also be considered an accomplice."

"Tian Shulan’s actions meet all the constituent elements of a joint crime. Throughout their marriage..."

To secure victory quickly, Ma Ming charged forward, constantly at the forefront of the open debate. Even the public prosecutor and Shi Liangping seemed to fade into the background.

On the defendants’ side, Meng Lei’s legal aid lawyer couldn’t utter a word for the longest time, offering no substantial performance.

Tian Shulan’s defense attorney, however, kept trying his best, shifting the line of argument from instigating a crime to joint crime, attempting to argue away the joint crime charge.

But he was unprepared for the angle Ma Ming introduced. He couldn’t react in time and didn’t know where to begin his rebuttal.

Two hours later, THUD—

The Judgment Chief banged the gavel again. Scanning everyone present, he announced gravely, "The court will recess for half an hour."

With that, after casting a deep glance at Ma Ming, this hearing’s MVP, he left the courtroom with the members of the collegial panel.

At the defendant’s dock, Tian Shulan hurriedly looked at her defense lawyer and nervously asked, "Can I... can I get a suspended sentence?"

This was her most pressing concern. As long as she could get a suspended sentence, she wouldn’t have to go to prison. This was also what her defense lawyer had assured her before the trial began.

"Ms. Tian, I’m sorry. The opposing... plaintiff is truly formidable. The point about joint crime is very difficult to refute," the defense lawyer said with a wry, apologetic smile.

"So? What then?" Tian Shulan’s heart sank, her face paling.

The lawyer thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "Suspended sentences are generally applicable to fixed-term imprisonment of three years or less."

CLANG!

As soon as he finished speaking, Tian Shulan collapsed into her seat, completely devastated.

Meanwhile, Meng Lei, beside her, was overjoyed and even felt the urge to walk over to the plaintiff’s side and thank them.

「At the same time, in Jin City.」

At the nursing home, after the court recessed, Zhang Qingyuan and the others looked away from the screen, sighing with various emotions.

"They’re finally going to be sentenced. I wonder how long those two will get?"

"After this case ends, who knows when we’ll see such an impressive defendant again."

"Honestly, with the case about to end, I’m a bit sad to see it go."

"Wonder if there’s a sequel..."

"..."

The crowd gathered, feeling as if a TV drama they’d been following was about to reach its grand finale—a mix of anticipation and reluctance.

Having watched so many of Meng Lei’s live-streamed trials... it would be a lie to say they felt no attachment.

Of course, this attachment wasn’t sympathy or sadness for him, but rather the fear of never seeing such an outstanding defendant again.

Among all the defendants they had witnessed... Meng Lei might not be number one, but he was definitely in the top three.

To think he single-handedly caused such a mess just by lending out an apartment—not everyone is capable of that!

Outside the main crowd, those few middle-aged men... had unknowingly watched the entire trial. Their feet ached from standing so long.

Suddenly, one of them snapped back to reality, his eyes widening. "Where’s my dad?"

He looked around frantically in the crowded courtyard. He had been so focused on watching the trial that he’d actually lost track of his father, who had come with him.

The other middle-aged men also came to their senses and started shouting.

"Damn, my dad’s gone too!"

"Dad, where are you?"

"Mom, where are you?"

"Dad..."

The middle-aged men kept yelling, but there were so many elderly people in the courtyard that those who heard them simply turned their heads, looking at them in confusion.

Just then, a nursing home staff member quickly approached. "It’s alright," he said, "you were all so engrossed in watching that I found some chairs for your parents. They’re sitting over there."

He pointed towards a few elderly people chatting with Zhang Qingyuan and the others.