Brothers Zhou Deng and Zhou An are from Suzhou. One day in early autumn three years ago, screams suddenly rang out from the Zhou family. When Zhou Deng's wife and neighbors came, they found Zhou Deng lying in a pool of blood, while Zhou An beside him
Covered in blood and holding a sharp dagger in his hand, Zhou Deng had not yet expired. He pointed at Zhou An and said: "Zhou An, kill me..." before he expired.
The facts of the case are so simple. I am completely sorry for the pile of files that are one foot high, and I am even more sorry for the judicial resources that have been spent on this case in the past three years. However, it is such a case with solid evidence and perfect witnesses and physical evidence that it has been dragged out.
In three years, the murderer's sentence was upgraded from hanging to beheading. If there were no accidents in the final trial this time, Zhou An would have been chopped into pieces. According to common sense, the real murderer would not be so stupid.
.
After rummaging through a stack of case files, Duan Fei could not find any clues that were beneficial to Zhou An. It seemed that this murderer was really different and had to ask for trouble.
Duan Fei was ready early the next morning. He took his master Su Rong and his senior followers Shi Bin, Hong Bang, Guo Wei, and Jiang Jun to the Yingtian Civil Service Bureau under the escort of the Yamen of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
yamen.
Nowadays, there are very few people who are officials in Yingtian who don’t know Duan Fei’s name. When the officials of the Libu Yamen heard that Mr. Duan Fei, the Imperial Envoy of Duan Fei from the Imperial Procuratorate, had arrived, they hurriedly led them in and arranged for tea and rest in the flower hall.
, and then fly the report inside.
Qian Rujing, the newly appointed Minister of Criminal Affairs of Nanjing, soon came out to accompany him, and soon Lin Xiyuan, the judge of Dali Temple in Nanjing, also came - this was just an insignificant iron case, and a judge from the eighth grade was enough. Qian Rujing was listening to
It is said that the Metropolitan Procuratorate sent Duan Fei, a famous celebrity who suddenly appeared, to examine the case. They were worried that he would be ignorant and do bad things, so they personally took action.
The three of them walked into the court one after another. Qian Rujing, the Minister of Punishment, was in charge. Duan Fei's official position was much higher than that of Lin Xiyuan, so he was on the left. The government officials lined up in two rows, and only a few people who came to watch the trial stood in the hall.
As soon as Qian Rujing slapped the hall, everyone in the hall immediately became quiet. Qian Rujing shouted: "Shengtang, the descendants are guilty of Zhou An!"
Two government officials dragged disheveled Zhou An to court. He had been imprisoned for more than two years, had been in court numerous times, and had been tortured countless times. His body was covered in scars, and his calves were twisted and deformed. It seemed that he was completely disabled.
"Sir, bring the criminal Zhou An here." The officer reported and threw Zhou An to the ground, where he knelt and then stepped aside.
Qian Rujing shouted: "Zhou An, today's trial of the three agencies is your last chance, what else do you have to say?"
Zhou An's expression changed, as if he was suddenly awakened. He crawled forward two steps and shouted: "Sir, the villain is wronged. The villain did not kill anyone. I did not kill my brother. I did not kill my brother...
…”
After Zhou An yelled a few words, he threw himself on the ground and burst into tears. Qian Rujing said patiently: "You said you didn't kill anyone. Then tell me the details one by one, and I and the two adults will make a decision."
Zhou An seemed to have some mental problems. Qian Rujing said it twice before he said in horror: "That day... I was playing with Xiao Lang in the front yard, and suddenly I heard my brother screaming twice in the backyard. I
I hurriedly ran in and saw my brother lying on the ground holding his chest. The ground was covered with blood. Blood kept coming out of his chest. I rushed over and hugged him. My brother handed me a bloody knife and shouted
I took it and reported it to the police, saying it was the murder weapon. I screamed in panic. Then my sister-in-law and neighbors came over, but my brother grabbed me by the collar of my clothes and said I was the murderer. I was completely frightened at the time. I don’t know why.
I was arrested and put in jail. Sir, I really didn’t kill anyone, sir..."
Qian Rujing glanced at Duan Fei and Lin Xiyuan, and seeing that they didn't express anything, he looked at Zhou An and asked: "You mean your brother framed you? What kind of grudge do you have against your brother that you can make him harm himself to frame you?
you?"
Zhou An replied: "No, the villain and my brother have never had any grudges. Otherwise, why would I have been living in my brother's house? The villain doesn't know why my brother framed me. Maybe he mistook me for the murderer before he died."
Qian Rujing questioned: "It's not impossible, but... when he caught you, he didn't say you were the murderer. What he said was 'Zhou An kill me'. It seems unlikely that he was wrong?"
"Young man... I really don't know." Zhou An said in panic: "Sir, this little person really didn't kill anyone."
The case has been dragged on for three years. Zhou An can't say anything new anymore. Qian Rujing is just doing it routine. This case is really clear. Anyone who has read the case file will think that Zhou An's repeated confession is just to delay the case.
It's just time.
"Master Duan, Master Lin, do you have anything else to ask?" Qian Rujing looked at Duan Fei and Lin Xiyuan.
Lin Xiyuan thought for a while and shook his head. This case had been delayed for a long time and it was in Suzhou. It would not be a matter of time to summon other witnesses, and it seemed completely unnecessary.
When Duan Fei saw that the two adults had nothing to ask, he suddenly asked: "Zhou An, do you have an enemy? An enemy who wants to kill you?"
Zhou An said blankly: "Enemy? This villain has been taught strictly since he was a child and has never made grudges with others."
Duan Fei asked again: "So, before the case, did you have any quarrels? For example, you blocked other people's money, robbed other people's women, or drank and fought. Many times you don't know that you have offended others, but in fact
Others already hate you to the core, think carefully before answering me."
Zhou An frowned and thought hard, but after a long time he still shook his head. Duan Fei asked unwillingly: "Then does your brother have any enemies? Is there harmony between your brother and his wife? Did your brother have any different reaction before the accident?
Such as being anxious, restless, easily hitting and scolding servants, etc.?"
Zhou An's expression changed. He seemed to have thought of something, and he exclaimed with surprise and joy: "Yes, a month or two before the accident, my brother changed. He often stayed out all night, became increasingly anxious, and even scolded him for trivial matters.
Sister-in-law, sir, you have to make the decision for me and clear up my grievances!"
Zhou An kowtowed to Duan Fei repeatedly. Duan Fei glanced at Qian Rujing and Lin Xiyuan. They nodded. Duan Fei turned his eyes back to Zhou An and said, "Zhou An, your confession said that your sister-in-law was in the neighborhood when the accident happened."
Home, she heard the screams and rushed back at the same time as her neighbor. Did she often go to her neighbor's house before? "
Zhou An recalled: "No, my sister-in-law was virtuous and virtuous, and she rarely took a step out of the house. That day...that day, my sister-in-law was teasing Xiao Lang, and her brother asked her to go next door and borrow something from the neighbor Aunt Zhang.
My sister-in-law didn’t want to go at first, but then my brother lost his temper, so she left Xiaolang to me, and then something happened not long after.”
Duan Fei asked: "Who do you and your brother interact with on weekdays? Who knew his whereabouts before the accident?"
Zhou An shook his head and said: "I go to the academy every day to read about the people my brother hangs out with. I think they are all businessmen. Before he died, my father gave me to my brother and asked us to do business and study. He only hoped that I would succeed in my studies.
When I became an official, I was so proud of my front door, but I didn’t expect that..."
"I think you are stupid because of studying..." Duan Fei cursed secretly. He thought for a while and continued to ask: "What else happened on the day of the case? Think about it carefully, did your brother go out that day?
?Or have any guests come to the house?"
Zhou An hadn't answered yet, but the people listening below were not happy. The noise became louder and louder since Duan Fei asked the question. At this time, someone finally couldn't help but said loudly: "Sir, you are not asking a question.
, you are clearly chatting with him about family matters. There are both witnesses and physical evidence, and the murderer is Zhou An. What else is there to ask? This kind of brother-killing traitor will not be able to resolve his hatred until he is cut into pieces with a thousand cuts!"dd