Justifiable Defence Episode 7 Recap
> Justifiable Defence Recap
When Ding Yi asked Deputy Chief Prosecutor Fang Lingyuan about her connection to Jiang Ting and why she hadn't disclosed it, Fang explained that her sole intention in this case was to uncover the truth, not to deliberately secure a conviction against anyone. After being transferred back from the provincial capital, Fang Lingyuan visited her family home. Her room remained largely unchanged after her long absence.
Inside the wardrobe hung a dress identical to one worn by Jiang Ting, her former class monitor. Fang's father, a tailor, had made her a dress after seeing a similar design commissioned by a customer, though he used different fabric. This incident became a catalyst, with Jiang Ting leading and encouraging classmates to bully Fang, resorting to both verbal abuse and physical aggression.
Later, at a class reunion, some former classmates who had participated in the bullying gossiped about Fang behind her back, but noted her changed demeanor, acknowledging she was no longer the vulnerable person she once was. During her visit home, Fang Lingyuan unexpectedly encountered Li Mufeng, who was picking up clothes from her father's tailor shop, located near his glass workshop. As they talked, Li Mufeng brought up a question from the bar exam ten years prior.
He recited the question verbatim and asked for Fang's interpretation. Disagreeing with her approach, he then stated the official standard answer from that year, surprising Fang. Li confessed that he had received a recommended admission to university and had once aspired to become a prosecutor.
When Fang couldn't give him a definitive answer regarding his own case – whether he was guilty or innocent if viewed as a subjective legal question – Li Mufeng, having reflected on how the guilty verdict had irrevocably altered his life, formally submitted an appeal to the procuratorate, steadfastly maintaining that his actions constituted justifiable defense. Chief Prosecutor Gong Ping convened a meeting to discuss Li Mufeng's case, noting the surge in appeals following suspicions surrounding Prosecutor Duan Hongshan.
Fang Lingyuan argued strongly for holding a public hearing, emphasizing the high public interest in the fourteen-year-old "6. 28 Library Murder Case" and viewing the hearing as a crucial opportunity to rebuild public trust in the procuratorate. Gong Ping agreed, appointing Fang Lingyuan to preside over the upcoming hearing. Meanwhile, Li Mufeng went to the aquarium to see Mei Zheng. She seemed reluctant to see him, but he explained he only wanted to know if she was living well.
He informed her about his appeal, but Mei Zheng expressed little hope for its success, noting the difficulty of changing things after so many years. Li recalled that many years ago, after his early release, he had tried to contact her about appealing, but she hadn't opened the door. Mei Zheng apologized for her past actions, but Li assured her he understood, acknowledging that seeing him then would have been painful for her.
He suggested her presence at the hearing could significantly improve his chances. Lei Shuang informed Duan Hongshan about the public hearing, pointing out that if Li Mufeng's appeal was successful, it would mean the original case handled by Duan was a wrongful conviction. Duan instructed Lei Shuang to remain calm, assuring her he could manage the situation, though Lei acknowledged her competitive nature and fear of losing.
Ding Yi later pointed out to Fang Lingyuan that Lei Shuang was listed among the hearing participants, explaining that she had been Duan Hongshan's assistant prosecutor fourteen years prior and was thus considered a relevant party to the case. The public hearing for Li Mufeng's criminal appeal commenced, with Mei Zheng in attendance and Duan Hongshan observing remotely. The public was also able to view the proceedings live.
After confirming he had no conflict of interest with the hearing participants, Li Mufeng's hearing officially began. A video recording of the original trial, where Duan Hongshan prosecuted Li Mufeng, was played. In the recording, Li described going to the library, seeing Zhou Lin assaulting Mei Zheng, intervening, and the ensuing fight. He stated that during the struggle, a knife fell to the ground, and fearing Zhou Lin would use it against him, he grabbed it and defended himself.
The original prosecutor highlighted the police investigation findings: neither Zhou Lin, Li Mufeng, nor Mei Zheng had brought weapons to the scene. The knife was a librarian's fruit knife that had been misplaced and fell when the bookshelf was knocked over during the fight. They argued that Zhou Lin's stick was not lethal, but Li Mufeng's use of the knife exceeded the limits of self-defense.
Li had mentioned that Zhou Lin was known for fighting in school, while testimony from classmates at the original trial suggested Li Mufeng harbored dark thoughts and resented Zhou Lin, alleging suspicious behavior shortly before the incident. Li Mufeng reiterated his request for a retrial to overturn his guilty verdict, arguing that his actions were clearly justifiable defense against a threat to his life.
He contested the original ruling of excessive defense, emphasizing the fundamental difference between being found guilty and innocent, and the lasting impact of being labeled a murderer. He challenged the panel to consider what an ordinary person would do when facing imminent danger. The hearing then called Mei Zheng as a witness. When asked if she remembered Zhou Lin, she confirmed she did.
However, she denied that Zhou Lin had harassed or attempted to assault her, stating they were merely classmates and he was a good person. She revealed that the person who had been threatening her was actually Zhang Yuan, and that Zhang Yuan had been present at the scene, hidden behind a book. Li Mufeng was visibly shocked by this revelation, stating he had been unaware of Zhang Yuan's involvement for fourteen years.
Mei Zheng maintained that her testimony was the truth and presented her old phone, containing harassment messages from Zhang Yuan, as evidence. Due to this new evidence, Chief Prosecutor Gong Ping announced a temporary recess.
Watching the live stream, Duan Hongshan recognized the significant shift in the case and viewed it as the start of a prolonged legal battle, musing on the different motivations driving each participant in the hearing: Li Mufeng seeking to clear his name, Gong Ping aiming to restore public trust, and Fang Lingyuan pursuing the truth. Ding Yi observed that Mei Zheng's purpose was to publicly refute the rumors that had plagued her for fourteen years and clear her name.
