Chapter 16 Original Sin
On Monday, Martin called Rachel and reminded her to bring Priya to the job, while he left the office in the Camaro.
That second-degree murder case has been dragging on for a while, and it's going to court if it doesn't go.
Driving on the very congested streets of New York, Martin was completely disappointed by this dream car in the hearts of many otakus.
Although the Camaro produced in 1973 is classic, and the power output is very smooth after renovation and modification, it is really not as good as those ordinary new cars that use electronic power assist systems and automatic transmissions.
The steering wheel was heavy to death, and the half-clutch engaged when following the car was about to cramp the front muscles of the calf...
No wonder Leonard and the others lost interest after only half a month of playing.
Martin decided to go back and get a new car. This Camaro is considered an investment and can be sold to those otakus sometime.
After driving for nearly an hour, Martin came to the Island City Prison by the sea.
This is the largest prison in New York State. It only detains felons with long sentences such as murder and rape. Although the defendant in the second-degree murder case has not yet been sentenced, he is also temporarily detained here.
Martin applied for a lawyer's meeting in accordance with the regulations, which was quickly approved by the prison.
"I have to say that you are the youngest criminal lawyer I have ever met."
A tall and strong African-American guard took Martin to the reception room and reminded him kindly before leaving: "The guys here are not very safe, if they try to Attack you, remember to press the alarm button under the table."
"Thank you, I believe I will be safe with you."
Martin did not flaunt his experience of winning the National High School Kickboxing Championship three times.
As soon as I sat down and took out the documents, the door opposite the reception room opened, and a heavily armed policewoman walked in with a gaunt girl in her twenties.
After unlocking the handcuffs, the policewoman pressed the girl on the chair opposite Martin: "The lawyer's meeting stipulates that you have two hours to talk, and you can't have any other behavior that may cause danger..."
Finished according to the script According to regulations, the policewoman glanced at Martin, who nodded in greeting, with some nostalgia, then opened the door and left.
Martin looked at the girl's appearance while sorting out the documents, and saw that her hair was dry, her dark circles were serious, and her thin cheeks indicated that her recent nutritional status was not very good.
"So the lawyer I've been waiting for for a month is a rookie like you?" The
girl looked up at Martin, her voice a little hoarse: "You look pretty good, does my mother want me to have one last hit before I go to jail?"
"The truth is To be honest, if I hadn't been promoted when I took your case, your family situation should not be able to pay for my current consultation fee."
Criminal cases are different from civil cases, unless it can be proved that the prosecution has committed serious negligence, otherwise No matter how the sentence is pronounced, the client must pay the attorney's fees.
Martin is now a senior lawyer, and the hourly consultation fee has risen from $400 to $750. This is because of his lack of seniority and practical experience. Otherwise, it should be thousands of dollars under normal circumstances.
Hearing Martin mentioning her family, Amanda finally lost her self-defeating disguise, and the whole person became much sadder.
"Amanda Somme?" Martin began to check the information: "Twenty-one-year-old, second-year fashion design student at the University of Pennsylvania, half scholarship... May 13, 2007 Parking at Walmart with her boyfriend There was an argument at the scene, and then the vehicle was knocked down and dragged 310 meters by the boyfriend, causing the boyfriend to die ... The New York District Attorney charged him with second-degree murder."
Martin's tone was neither salty nor light, without any emotion: "Is there anything you want to add about the basic information?"
Amanda shook her head weakly.
Martin took a new voice recorder from his briefcase, opened it, and placed it on the table.
"You need to understand one thing, I am your lawyer and I will help you, so I hope you will not resist or resist me, let alone deceive and conceal our next conversation, understand? "
Can you really help me?" Amanda looked up, her dull eyes brightened for the first time. "I mean, will you help me?"
"I'll try to do it." Martin tried to look more believable: "If you can do what I just said."
"I'll cooperate." Amanda nodded.
The case isn't really that complicated.
Amanda became boyfriend and girlfriend with a college classmate named Sokya Spencer last year. It was good at first, but as time went on, Amanda felt that her boyfriend was too controlling, and she didn't even allow her to have sex with others. Men have a normal conversation.
In May of this year, Amanda and her boyfriend went to Walmart to buy ingredients for the next week. After entering the supermarket, the two went to get their own things separately. During this period, Amanda met a male passer-by to strike up a conversation, and the two briefly chatted for a few words, which happened to be seen by Sokeya.
On the way out of the supermarket to the parking lot, Sokya expressed her dissatisfaction. Amanda simply proposed to break up and had a very fierce quarrel with Sokya, during which she smashed him a few times with the bag in her hand, and then Get in your new BMW X5 and get ready to leave.
Sokeya ran to the car and tried to stop it, but Amanda drove him directly to the ground, got stuck under the car and was dragged for more than 300 meters. Before the ambulance arrived, she was out of breath.
After listening to Amanda's self-report, Martin shook his head helplessly and began to ask for more details.
"Has Sokya tried to hurt you in public..."
"How many times did you break up with him? How did he react..."
"The passers-by who approached you have Do you leave the contact information..."
Amanda answered honestly one by one, and there should be no signs of concealment from the surface.
After asking all the questions he could think of, Martin's face was sinking, brooding as he sorted out the papers.
I can't stand my boyfriend's desire to control—the subjective motive for murder, is there.
Driving over and dragging boyfriend over - there's an objective homicide, too.
Five eyewitnesses testified that Sokya didn't restrain Amanda at all—not even an excuse for self-defense.
No wonder the prosecution did not come to a plea agreement with Amanda, and the court did not allow bail. This case looked like a perfect second-degree murder case, which could be included in the Harvard Law School textbook as a typical case of crime explanation.
"I'm in big trouble, right?"
Amanda looked at Martin's serious expression, and the last glimmer of hope faded away.
Martin pondered for a while, then raised his head and said, "Amanda, I have to tell you the truth. If you can't find new evidence before the trial, according to the previous precedent, you will be sentenced to fifteen years in prison without parole."
Then, he added: "Of course, this is the worst case, and I will try to find a way to see if I can reduce your sentence."
This is the most basic professional skill of a lawyer, only telling the client the worst case, and then if he can get Relatively good results, the client will be more grateful and trusting the lawyer.
Amanda has been in prison for two months, and she was mentally prepared for it.
Seeing that her face was gradually turning grey, and her whole body was slowly shrinking like she was being drained, Martin shook his head a little reluctantly.
Although Sokya didn't hurt Amanda's behavior, the suffocating desire for control was really annoying. Amanda just wanted to escape, but in anger, she made a big mistake and almost destroyed her entire life. life.
It is not without reason that jealousy and anger are listed as two of the seven deadly sins...