American Justice - Chapter 8

“Pain is a self-protection mechanism of the body, just like fear.”

“We are afraid of pain because it often happens when we are hurt. So even if we try to endure it, our tolerance for pain is still low.”

“In the recent experiment, when the pain continued to increase and became more and more obvious, our body began to prevent us from continuing to apply it. So we stopped.”

“But it’s the body’s instinct that prevents us from applying pain continuously, choosing to commit suicide is not an instinct.”

“We often do things that contradict our instincts. For example, we are afraid of flames because fire can bring disaster and harm, but we still overcome our instincts and use fire to roast meat, keep warm, and cook food.”

“This is the result of rational choice, not following instincts.”

“When a person is determined to commit suicide, they will also overcome the body’s instinct.”

“The prosecution just mentioned that Selena has no professional medical background…”

“I also don’t have a professional background in fishing, but by learning from others, researching online, and constantly practicing, I am now an excellent fisherman.”

“Many people have not undergone professional culinary training, but they can still become excellent chefs and cook delicious food.”

“What can academic qualifications represent? Academic qualifications represent nothing.”

After speaking, Brooklyn returned to his seat.

His cross-examination was not ordinary.

Compared with ordinary cross-examination, his speech was more like a guidance, an inspiration. He was only responsible for providing another way of thinking for everyone, but he did not come to a conclusion.

This kind of speech is often inefficient or even ineffective in the cross-examination process.

But today is different.

Most of the jurors today have independent thinking abilities. If they are given a way of thinking, they can think along with it.

If Brooklyn explains everything, it will only make them doubtful of the conclusion.

Brooklyn briefly looked at Coulson and quickly avoided his gaze.

In the first tentative confrontation, Coulson took the initiative to attack, and Brooklyn defended.

At first glance, both sides stopped after a few remarks, and neither showed their cards.

“Since the defense did not submit an evidence list, the prosecution will continue to present evidence,” Judge Anna said.

Coulson stood up, hesitated for a moment, and chose evidence numbers 25 and 26. They were the crime scene blood stains and the NYPD blood stain analyst, Mr. Dexter Morgan.

“Please place your right hand on the Bible, swear to God that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” said the assistant to the judge, bringing the Bible for Dexter to place his hand on as he was called to the witness stand

“I swear.”

Dexter solemnly took the oath.

The assistant judge nodded and took the Bible away.

Brooklyn scrutinized the blood analyst.

The analyst appeared to be dressed casually in a pair of jeans, a slightly worn jacket, and a dark gray T-shirt inside, but his clothes were clean and neat, and his collar was neatly ironed.

He sat straight in the witness stand, slightly furrowing his brows. His half-open, half-closed blue eyes swept across the room and eventually landed on Brooklyn.

Brooklyn was slightly startled but then realized that the analyst had already shifted his gaze.

He couldn’t help but touch his neck, feeling a cold sensation.

“Mr. Dexter, we can see that the bloodstains on the scene are very messy, with splatters, pools, footprints, and handprints. Can you tell us about their relationship?” Coulson started questioning.

Brooklyn also unconsciously straightened his body.

The bloodstains on the scene and the murder weapon were the prosecution’s strongest evidence. After a brief probing, Coulson quickly revealed this evidence, causing Brooklyn’s body to tremble slightly.

He wasn’t nervous.

This kind of tremble was more like excitement caused by a sudden rush of adrenaline.

Brooklyn listened attentively.

“We simulated the scene based on the bloodstains.”

Dexter calmly said.

“The killer was very close to the victim at the beginning, and had frequent contact with the victim after the incident.”

“The killer was behind the victim with no obstruction, which caused the blood to splatter out and leave complete splatter marks in front of the victim.”

“After confirming the victim’s death, the killer stood up and backed away, leaning against the wall, with blood on his hands staining the wall.”

He pointed to one photo after another and talked eloquently, his tone gradually rising and falling.

“The killer stood at the wall for a while, maybe even sat down, and then he stood up, came to the victim again, and confirmed the victim’s death again.”

The picture switched to Selena lying on the ground. Dexter’s voice suddenly became higher, and there was a strange light in his eyes.

“At this time, the killer’s feet were stained with blood, and he walked towards the door, grasped the doorknob, turned it, and opened it. He then had a physical conflict with someone in the hallway.”

Clear blood footprints on the living room floor, barely noticeable bloodstains on the doorknob, and slightly chaotic footprints in the hallway were all presented one by one.

“In other words, it was not a sudden outburst of passion that led to the killing. Was the killer intentional and premeditated?” Coulson asked skillfully.

“Objection, leading question,” Brooklyn symbolically expressed his profession, speaking and moving extremely perfunctorily.

“Objection overruled!” Judge Anna made a ruling.

“Yes,” Dexter said.

After the presentation of the photos, Dexter’s emotions returned to calm. He even appeared a little disappointed, like a man who had finished playing cards and was smoking, with no energy left in his body.

“People usually stand in front of the knife so they can exert more force, but this position would block the bloodstains…