9:30 a.m.

The court clerk stood up.

All the online viewers watching the live broadcast were filled with respect.

The court session was about to begin!

Court Clerk: "All rise!"

The entire courtroom stood up in unison!

Court Clerk: "Please welcome the presiding judge and the associate judges."

Under everyone's gaze.

Presiding Judge Rong Liwei, Associate Judge Dingxiangling, and Associate Judge Qian Xuejun entered the courtroom.

Presiding Judge Rong Liwei surveyed the room, looking at everyone.

"Please be seated!"

The presiding judge struck the gavel!

The court clerk announced: "Now announcing court discipline!"

"All participants in the litigation must abide by the court rules and must not make noise or disrupt proceedings. Statements, remarks, and debates must be allowed by the presiding judge."

"Observers must adhere to the following disciplines:

1. It is forbidden to record, videotape, photograph, or use mobile communication tools to disseminate courtroom activities.

2. It is forbidden to move around at will and enter the trial area.

3. It is forbidden to speak or ask questions.

4. It is forbidden to applaud, shout, cause a commotion, or engage in other behaviors that obstruct the trial."

...."

The court clerk looked at the presiding judge, "Reporting to the presiding judge, plaintiffs Zhang Zhiqiang and Zhu Guizhen, defendant Xie Siyu, courtroom work is ready, and the trial can commence now."

Presiding Judge Rong Liwei: "Now, I declare this court session open!"

Rong Liwei: "The original defendant Xie Siyu, dissatisfied with the 319th verdict issued by the Third Intermediate People's Court of Jin City, filed an appeal with this court. In accordance with the Huaxia Civil Procedure Law and related legal provisions, this case will be publicly heard."

"Please, the parties to the litigation, make your statements." Rong Liwei looked toward the plaintiffs.

The two lawyers for the plaintiffs then spoke one after the other.

"Presiding Judge, our client Zhang Guobin, aged 76, was on his way home from Changfeng Street, when he was hit by a Mercedes C driven by Xie Siyu, resulting in multiple fractures and injuries. After the incident, Xie Siyu confessed but refused to admit to hitting our client Zhang Guobin. Zhang Guobin was hospitalized and unable to pay medical expenses. Xie Siyu refused to advance the costs and take responsibility, which worsened Zhang Guobin's condition and led to a heart attack, directly causing Zhang Guobin's death."

"Therefore, we contend that there is a direct relationship between Xie Siyu and Zhang Guobin's death. As Xie Siyu refused to pay any expenses and tried to evade responsibility, her crime is exacerbated. We request a harsher penalty for Xie Siyu and seek a life sentence, along with compensation of 1.3 million yuan for our client."

Another lawyer spoke: "Our client Zhu Guizhen was also on Changfeng Street when the incident happened. After hitting Zhang Guobin, Xie Siyu drove into Zhu Guizhen, constituting a chain accident. As a novice driver, licensed for only a month, Xie Siyu should bear the main responsibility for this event. We request compensation of 100,000 yuan for our client Zhu Guizhen, covering medical costs, lost wages, mental distress, and other associated expenses."

Zhu Guizhen and Zhang Zhiqiang sat at the plaintiff's table awaiting compensation.

Though they didn't know each other, their purpose was the same.

As long as there's money, it's all that matters.

After all, Xie Siyu drives a Mercedes; surely her family isn't short on money? Giving them some compensation wouldn't be unusual, right?

Just give them 1.4 million and it's fine.

As for how many years Xie Siyu would spend in prison, what concern is that of theirs?

The lawyers submitted various hospital bills and proofs of their claims, with the primary goal of acquiring money.

Plaintiff Zhang Zhiqiang spoke: "My father is dead, and you want us to write a letter of pardon? On what grounds? Where were you before? Now, we demand 2 million; with 2 million in compensation, we are willing to write a letter of forgiveness; otherwise, forget it!!"

Zhang Zhiqiang demanded 2 million right away!

But for Xie Siyu's family, 2 million is a substantial amount, and they cannot come up with that much cash.

Even raising 1.4 million in cash is currently unfeasible!

Gu Chen raised his hand.

Presiding Judge Rong Liwei looked at Gu Chen and said: "Please, the defendant's lawyer, speak."

Gu Chen spoke: "We believe that the first trial's result by Judge Li Yuan was flawed! Let me state our demands!"

"First, our client Xie Siyu is innocent! We request immediate release!"

"Second, First Trial Judge Li Yuan made a grievous error in the case, sentencing Xie Siyu to ten years and ordering a compensation of 1.4 million yuan. We request the court to investigate and rectify internal issues involving Judge Li Yuan, as this misjudgement caused our client, Xie Siyu, to be detained for half a month. We seek compensation of 30,000 yuan for Xie Siyu, covering lost wages and mental distress."

"Third, the plaintiffs Zhang Guobin and his son Zhang Zhiqiang are suspected of extortion, with the extortion amount reaching 2 million yuan. We request a 15-year sentence for Zhang Zhiqiang and compensation to Xie Siyu of 50,000 yuan."

"Fourth, the plaintiff Zhu Guizhen has extorted our client, involving an amount over 100,000 yuan, and multiple instances of extortion sum up to over 200,000 yuan. We request a ten-year prison term for Zhu Guizhen and the return of the extorted property."

Gu Chen finished outlining his four demands.

After he finished, the whole courtroom and the entire live-stream chat exploded.

Presiding Judge Rong Liwei and the two other associate judges exchanged glances.

These four demands included one directed at a judge!

Additionally, two were aimed at the plaintiffs!!

Just who is the plaintiff, and who is the defendant?

The live stream audience was once again floored!

[Whoa! Lawyer Gu!! Incredible!! Kicking off with four demands, that's impressive!!]

[Lawyer Gu really left me in awe, oh my... and he's indicting both plaintiffs!!]

[Aren't elders just fond of faking accidents to extort money nowadays? Well, they should go to jail! They must go to jail!! If faking accidents had no consequences, anyone could do it without bearing any cost, extorting money wherever they go when successful.]

[Do good people end up in jail for helping the elderly? Isn't that a grave injustice? Why punish a good person? Isn't the law supposed to protect every citizen? Now, when a good person is wronged, they still need to go to jail???]

The online audience didn't believe that Xie Siyu really hit anyone.

It's just because Xie Siyu has insurance!

As long as she confesses to hitting someone, she might not even need to go to jail or pay, letting the insurance cover it.

But she firmly denies hitting anyone and won't claim insurance!

This indicates no collision occurred!

Wouldn't you know if you hit someone or not?

And the presiding judge in the first trial had only one question—[If you didn't hit anyone, why did you help them?]

Can such a question really come from a presiding judge?

Many Peking University students were equally astonished.

Is this their future professor?

So outrageous?

Coming right out and demanding reforms to a first trial judge and seeking compensation!!

Directly suggesting the plaintiffs be incarcerated!!

"No, really, is Lawyer Gu actually a plaintiff's lawyer or a defendant's lawyer? Isn't he a defendant's lawyer, yet he wants to sentence all the plaintiffs to at least ten years in prison?"

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