Chapter 265 Going to Court 3: Intense Defense
In the courtroom, one witness after another took the stand to testify.
This included all the relevant personnel from the Lockhart Group who had been involved in the contracts, as well as those who had handled the private contract transactions.
Even the planning bureau director was called to the stand, where he confirmed the specifics of his bribery charges.
With all the evidence and testimonies in place, the charges against Theodore for tax evasion and bribery seemed all but confirmed.
Everyone felt that the case was unwinnable.
Adding to the conviction were Theodore's own demoralized decisions to use Alaric—a pseudo-lawyer who had never actually practiced law but merely possessed a license—to defend him, which further solidified the perception of his guilt.
In the courtroom, which was heavy with a solemn and quiet atmosphere, the prosecutor returned to his seat.
The judge addressed Alaric, "Please, defendant's counsel, present a legal defense to the prosecutor's summation."
"Thank you, Your Honor," Alaric stood up from his seat.
All eyes were on him, skeptical of his decision to defend Theodore in court. While Alaric had indeed shown sudden prowess in recent times, legal battles and the role of a lawyer required experience, not just theoretical knowledge.
At least half of the courtroom was waiting to see if Alaric would make a fool of himself.
They thought his recent bravado had gotten a little too much out of hand. Audiences always love to see others put in their place.
Dominic, too, had an expression of amusement, eager to see Alaric make a spectacle of himself.
After Alaric stood up, there was indeed a momentary silence.
He seemed to be looking for someone in the audience.
Cecilia felt a flutter of nervousness. She wasn't doubting Alaric, but at such a critical moment, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry.
She locked gazes with Alaric.
"Holy crap," Seraphina exclaimed, "I swear, I feel like I'm getting worked up. Is Alaric winking at you?"
Cecilia turned around. Alaric's eyes really did have a hypnotic quality to them.
Alaric confirmed Cecilia's glance before turning to address the court, "Your Honor, I will be arguing for my client's innocence."
A wave of astonishment swept through the courtroom.
No one expected Alaric to make such a statement.
The evidence of the crime was clearly established.
Was Alaric really that shameless?
Yes, lawyers often had thick skin, but Alaric's level of audacity was something else entirely.
Everyone wondered, 'Will he feel humiliated when the verdict comes down?'
"Order in the court!" The judge's stern voice cut through the murmur of disbelief.
The mocking voices gradually died down.
"Please continue, Counsel for the Defense."
Alaric said, "Yes, Your Honor. The whistleblower, William, claimed he reported my client because my client allegedly pressured him into using the most expensive building materials, citing that my client was not honoring the contract. However, as I understand it, most of the construction materials for the Lockhart Group's projects are procured directly by the Lockhart Group to ensure the quality of their buildings. This means that only a small portion of the materials was required from the contractor. For the Flower Beach International project, with a total construction cost of $150 million, I've reviewed the materials needed, and even using the highest-grade materials available, the cost wouldn't exceed $45 million. This suggests that William's claim of inflated costs is not entirely accurate."
"I did not exaggerate! The construction cost isn't just for materials—there are labor wages, daily expenses, and many other costs. Do you think the $150 million is my pure profit?" William shot back, his voice tinged with both agitation and sarcasm.
Alaric glanced at William. "Mr. Green, please refrain from speaking until you're addressed."
"Please control your emotions, Mr. Green. You're to remain silent until called upon," the judge ordered with firmness.
William, visibly unsettled, nodded. "Yes, Your Honor."
Alaric continued, "This brings me to my second point. I've reviewed the private bribery agreement between William and my client, as well as the private contract between Wyatt and my client. Both agreements contain a significant flaw: they are signed but lack official stamps and personal seals. According to Article 32, Section 5 of the Yakurosean Empire's Contract Law, contracts without official stamps and personal seals are not legally binding. Therefore, we contend that these two agreements should not be admitted as evidence."
"While it's true that contracts lacking official stamps and seals are not legally binding, this does not necessarily exonerate the defendant," the judge concluded.
Alaric did not contest the judge's ruling.
He addressed the court respectfully, "Your Honor, may I ask the witness a few questions?"
"Granted."
Turning to face William, Alaric noticed the apprehension in his eyes.
Despite the unexpected change in attorneys, William had heard that this new lawyer was a rookie, so he felt he didn't have much to worry about.
"Mr. Green, you mentioned earlier that you had two previous collaborations with the Lockhart Group, correct?" Alaric began.
"That's right," William replied.
"Who was your primary contact for those collaborations?"
"An employee from the Lockhart Group's construction department."
"So, it wasn't my client, then?"
"Exactly. Theodore is the chairman of the Lockhart Group; it's not like I'd just bump into him casually."
"Given that, why would my client, who doesn't know you well, trust you enough to make a private deal with you to bribe the planning bureau's director?"
William was caught off guard. He had been briefed that everything was arranged for him, and he was only supposed to stick to the script. This question clearly exceeded his prepared answers.
"Can't answer that, can you?" Alaric pressed, his gaze intensifying.
"Well... I mentioned earlier that I heard the Lockhart Group wanted to acquire the Flower Beach International site. I made the connection for them, and during the discussions, I made it clear that if they wanted the Flower Beach project, they'd have to work with me. That's how I ended up meeting Theodore. After a few meetings, we became familiar, and he agreed to let me handle the Flower Beach project. However, he set a condition: I needed to come up with $3.5 million to bribe the planning bureau's director, or the project would face delays," William responded, maintaining a semblance of calm.
"So, Mr. Green, did you sign the agreement directly with my client?"
"Yes," William affirmed without hesitation.
It seemed he was confident that his earlier answers had been logical, bolstering his assurance now.
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