Chapter 559 A Recording
Chapter 559 A Recording
Soon, the jury, secretaries, inspectors, and other personnel were in place. Three judges slowly walked in from outside.
Everyone stood up, and everyone had a solemn expression on their faces. Then, Audrey and the opposing counsel took the oath.
After the opposing counsel finished taking the oath, the judge motioned for Audrey to state the case.
Audrey slowly stood up.
She first looked in the direction of the judge and then at the crowd.
"Your Honor, members of the jury, inspectors, and all the reporters present. I am Audrey Koch, the lawyer who represents the prosecuting organ. The defendant is the Fida Trading Company. Angel Orphanage is the largest orphanage in the city. There are many orphans who have lost their families or have been abandoned. The orphanage is their second home. The director of the Angel Orphanage, Ms. Selina Perez, treats the children as her own children.
"However, the Fida Trading Company wanted to take over Angel Orphanage for its own benefit. In the case that Ms. Perez did not agree to sell the land of the orphanage, the person in charge of the Fida Trading Company had a crazy plan, to set fire to the orphanage. After the orphanage was greatly damaged, Ms. Perez would have to sell the orphanage, and the Fida Trading Company took the opportunity to buy it at a low price.
"This kind of behavior has seriously violated the 29th and 114th laws of our country. It is a serious violation of the law. Now, I, on behalf of prosecuting organ, file a lawsuit against the heads of Fida Trading Company, requesting the court to severely punish the criminal suspects."
After listening to Audrey's statement, the judge looked at the defendant.
"Counsel for the defense."
The lawyers of the defendant's party looked at each other. Then, a slightly older lawyer stood up.
When the lawyer looked at Audrey, his gaze was full of ridicule.
"I am Gilbert Ashton, the counsel of the Fida Trading Company!"
However, just as Gilbert introduced himself, a burst of laughter erupted from the scene. Then, someone mocked Gilbert's tone.
"Did you hear that? The lawyer sounded so funny."
"I know! He has a funny accent and an arrogant attitude."
"That's right. He really brought us some fun."
Gilbert was sullen when he heard the comments from the audience.
He had been ridiculed by countless people at the court, and he wouldn't be as angry as he had been.
Gilbert calmly looked at the audience and said, "There is nothing funny. This is a serious place. For your information, I'm proud of myself standing here."
The crowd looked at Gilbert with some admiration.
Gilbert withdrew his gaze from the audience and turned back to the judge and jury.
"Everyone knows that the Fida Trading Company is an old company in Peace City and has completed many big projects. Moreover, everyone knows that the Fida Trading Company has worked hard for its good reputation. The Fida Trading Company has always been honest and will never do anything that goes against its principles. Otherwise, the Fida Trading Company wouldn't be so successful.
"As for the land of the Angel Orphanage, the Fida Trading Company wanted to buy it, and it was indeed rejected by the director of the orphanage, Ms. Perez. However... My client did not threaten Ms. Perez to hand over the orphanage as the plaintiff said. And Ms. Perez can testify personally that my client did not do anything to threaten her."
After saying that, Gilbert requested that Selina be brought to court as a witness.
Selina looked clearly toilworn.
Because of that case, many people came to visit frequently during this period of time. Moreover, they disturbed the children in the orphanage. Even though Selina had arranged for many people to protect the orphanage, there were still people who would try to sneak into the orphanage.
Selina stood on the stage as a witness, and Gilbert began his questioning. "Ms. Selina, do you know my client, Mr. Howard Dawson?"
Selina nodded.
"Yes. Mr. Dawson wanted to buy my orphanage. We met before. So, I know him!" Selina replied faintly.
"Good. Ms. Perez, I want to ask you one question. When my client offered to buy the orphanage from you, did you agree?"
Selina shook her head. "No, the orphanage is my lifework. I won't sell it to anyone, so I didn't agree."
"Ms. Perez, let me ask you again. After you rejected my client, did he use any means to force you to sell the orphanage to him?"
"No, he didn't do that. And we haven't seen each other since then!"
"Very good. Thank you, Ms. Perez!" Gilbert smiled at Selina. "Thank you for your cooperation."Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
Gilbert turned to the judge. "Your Honor, Ms. Perez just proved that my client did not force her to sell the land. Apparently, my client has no motive to commit a crime against the orphanage.
"What the arson said was just a one-sided statement. She wanted to frame my client and escape the blame."
Audrey raised her hand, and the judge immediately replied, "Please speak, the plaintiff's lawyer."
"Your Honor, although the defendant did not force Ms. Perez to sell the land, it doesn't mean that he has no motive to buy it by force. Besides... I have evidence in my hand. It can prove that the defendant definitely has a motive for committing a crime."
"What evidence?" asked the judge.
"A recording!" Audrey handed her phone over. "Last time, I dealt with a case between the Randall Group and the Fida Trading Company. Coincidentally, I heard an interesting phone call. Out of the instinct of a lawyer, I recorded the conversation."
Then, Audrey played the recording of the conversation between Howard and someone else on the phone in public.
When Howard heard the recording playing on Audrey's phone, his face suddenly changed. Then, Howard stared at Audrey with malice in his eyes. It looked like he wanted to kill Audrey.
Howard had never expected Audrey to have such evidence.
After the recording was played, everyone was shocked.
In the recording, it was clear that Howard told his subordinate to let someone set fire to the orphanage and that Howard was going to use it as an opportunity to get the orphanage.