You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 358

“An unagreed witness!”

“A witness who will give decisive testimony to prove the defendant’s innocence.”

“Witness, please stand at the witness stand.”

Squeezed between Junbeom and other private investigation employees, Byun Seungmin, wearing a mask, hurried to the witness stand in the courtroom.

Standing there, he glanced in my direction.

He looked uneasy, probably because Wooshin’s people had also managed to get tickets to watch, making him anxious.

After completing the witness oath, Byun Seungmin hid his trembling hands behind his back.

Wooshin’s people are here, so he seems very anxious… I wonder if he’ll be okay.

“Witness, please state your name and occupation for the court.”

“I am an employee of Umi Gallery who periodically changed the paintings in the villa. I was also the boyfriend of the deceased, Sangeun.”

As soon as Byun Seungmin finished his introduction, a murmur swept through the courtroom.

Everyone seemed surprised by the sudden appearance of the victim’s boyfriend.

Lawyers on Tae Kwang’s side began to whisper amongst themselves.

It’s no wonder they’re flustered; the person they were looking for was right here in the courtroom.

“Your Honor, I submit as evidence materials proving that the witness was the victim’s boyfriend. These are photos of the witness and the victim looking affectionate, clearly depicting a romantic relationship.”

At my words, Kang Minjae handed the documents to the court clerk.

“First, I will address the photo that was reported to the police. It’s a photo of the defendant strangling the victim. This photo became the starting point, leading the police to conduct a search and seizure at the defendant’s villa. Do you know when that photo was taken?”

“That was… on the day Sangeun died.”

“How do you know this?”

“Because I was the one who took that photo.”

Each word from Byun Seungmin landed like a bombshell in the courtroom.

Reporters began typing furiously, and the bereaved family members, upon hearing that it was the day the housekeeper died, began to wipe away tears again.

“No employees were scheduled to visit the villa that day. Why were you at the villa at that time?”

“As has been reported in the media, Sangeun often used the villa as if it were her own home when the Madam [Kim Hwayoung] was away. The same applied to me, her boyfriend. First of all… I would like to apologize to the Madam.”

Byun Seungmin bowed his head towards Kim Hwayoung.

“I heard that the Madam was going away, and Sangeun invited me over, saying the villa would be empty for a few days, so I went to spend time with her.”

“And then you witnessed the defendant strangling the victim?”

“…I arrived at the villa after the Madam left, but unexpectedly, the Madam returned, looking very angry. I quickly hid behind a pillar. Sangeun was wearing the Madam’s dress and trying on a diamond necklace in the Madam’s room, so I couldn’t help but witness the Madam rushing at Sangeun. At that moment, I thought I should gather evidence in case Sangeun was assaulted by the Madam, so I took a photo. Just as I was about to intervene, I saw Sangeun push the Madam away and begin to take off the necklace and dress.”

“I see. The defendant also stated that she saw you at the house that day. Was there any argument with the defendant?”

“The Madam was indeed very angry and followed Sangeun, but she soon calmed down and sat down. There was no need for me to intervene.”

“What happened after that? According to the police investigation, the defendant followed the victim to the flower bed, killed her with a brick, and buried her in the flower bed.”

“That didn’t happen.”

At Byun Seungmin’s firm denial, the bereaved family members widened their eyes in surprise.

Until now, they had firmly believed that Kim Hwayoung had killed Sangeun, but now that her boyfriend had appeared and said otherwise, they were taken aback.

Perhaps the bereaved family vaguely knew of the boyfriend’s existence.

They probably didn’t know specifically where he was from or what he did, but they were likely aware that a boyfriend existed.

If that weren’t the case, they would have assumed we were bribing the witness and fabricating evidence, given their grief. Instead, they seemed to be listening intently to Byun Seungmin’s words.

“Then what happened?”

“After calming down, the Madam went back up to the second floor, changed back into her own clothes, and took the dress and diamond necklace before leaving.”

“Is that all the defendant did at the villa that day?”

“Yes.”

The audience erupted in noise at the definitive statement that Kim Hwayoung did not kill the housekeeper.

The court police had to warn them to be quiet.

As the commotion subsided, I continued the questioning.

“However, according to the police investigation, the victim died that day. What happened after the defendant left?”

“After the Madam left, I tried to cheer Sangeun up. I suggested we go swimming in the pool in the garden. I cooked some food, and we went outside.”

“So, there were no problems until then.”

“That’s right. Sangeun cheered up while eating, and we were swimming… I had to take a call, so I went inside for a moment, taking the call where I could still see the pool. They couldn’t see me from there. Suddenly, a commotion started near Sangeun.”

“What kind of commotion?”

“Someone… there were two people. They were yelling at Sangeun and assaulting her, slapping her. I heard some loud noises during the call, but I was focused on the call and didn’t hear properly. At first, I thought they were just streaming a movie or something.”

At Byun Seungmin’s words, sobs were heard from the bereaved family’s side.

The shock must have been immense, as they were learning of another possible scenario they hadn’t considered.

“I tried to run and stop them, but I thought it was more important to secure evidence first, so I took a picture. Then I ran to stop them.”

“And then?”

“Sangeun tried to run away from them but slipped and hit her head on a landscaping stone, and she collapsed. There was a lot of blood, and those two people seemed flustered and didn’t know what to do. I should have stepped in at that time… I should have… I was too scared to do anything. Really, sob, I was too scared…”

Byun Seungmin trailed off and began to cry.

I told him to act naturally during the witness examination, but he chose tears, which didn’t help us at all.

“What was the reason for your fear? It would have been scary to protect your girlfriend against two people, but you could have reported it to the police or intervened. Was there another reason?”

“Th-those two people… I was scared of those people who assaulted Sangeun, so I couldn’t do anything, sob.”

“Do you know who those two people are?”

Byun Seungmin cried as if the world was ending.

“Sangeun, I’m sorry… sob, I’m sorry, Sangeun…”

It was disgusting to watch.

But I barely suppressed my annoyance and handed him a tissue.

“Haa…”

“Who were the two people you witnessed at that time?”

“…They were Ko Yunho and Ko Yunmin, brothers from the Wooshin Group.”

“Are you referring to Ko Yunho and Ko Yunmin, who hold representative positions at Wooshin Card and Wooshin Securities?”

“Yes.”

It was instantaneous.

This was the fastest and loudest typing I had ever heard in this courtroom.

Everyone was busy typing, and the audience was as noisy as a flea market.

Taking advantage of the chaos, I approached Byun Seungmin.

“The photo.”

I said briefly.

Once I get the photo, his usefulness is over.

Of course, there will be cross-examination from the prosecutor’s side, but as long as there is a photo, the cross-examination isn’t as critical.

I have thoroughly prepared him, too.

“Where is the photo?”

When I asked again, Byun Seungmin sniffled and whispered.

“I don’t have it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“…I lost it, at the courthouse.”

What nonsense is this?

I looked for the private investigation employees in the audience.

Junbeom was not in his seat; only the other employee was there.

The employee held up his cell phone to me.

He wanted me to check my phone.

I hadn’t been able to check it because I was focused on the trial…

[That bastard Byun Seungmin lost his cell phone in the courthouse bathroom]

A message had arrived while I was doing the cross-examination.

[I checked the bathroom, but it’s not there. No one has reported finding it… It looks like Tae Kwang’s side stole it. I’m still looking]

And a message had arrived from Taesik 10 minutes ago.

I looked at Tae Kwang’s side in the audience.

Their reaction when Byun Seungmin first appeared was less enthusiastic than I expected.

Other than exchanging whispers, there was no surprising action.

It was because they already knew.

That Byun Seungmin would appear here.

“I’m sorry.”

Byun Seungmin said again, pretending to blow his nose.

I sighed.

The photo is the most important piece of evidence.

The faces of Ko Yunho and Ko Yunmin were exposed, and the housekeeper’s collapsed and bleeding state was clearly revealed.

I wondered why Byun Seungmin had looked so uneasy; this was why.

“Quiet, please. Quiet, please!”

As the noisy courtroom did not quiet down, the judge banged the gavel and shouted.

Then, I felt the tension in the audience slowly ease.

“Attorney, continue the witness examination.”

“Do you know anything about the usual relationship between Ko Yunho, Ko Yunmin, and the victim?”

“No.”

“Then why do you think they did that?”

“…I don’t know the details, but it seemed like the two people wanted something from Sangeun. She didn’t give it to them, and that’s why the assault happened.”

“Can you tell me what the two people said to the victim while they were assaulting her, as you remember?”

“I think they said things like, ‘How dare a caretaker, you should do as you’re told.’”

“So, while they were assaulting her, the victim ran away, slipped, and hit her head on a landscaping stone, is that right?”

“Yes. There was a lot of blood… and I heard those people checking to see if Sangeun was breathing and saying that she seemed to be dead.”

“…That’s all.”

Originally, the photo should have been presented here.

But if that happens, the question will arise about the photo’s whereabouts during the cross-examination. If they know there is no photo, Byun Seungmin’s situation becomes more dangerous.

On the day of the incident, Kim Hwayoung was framed as the culprit because no one else was at the house.

The same goes for Park Hyunsook.

That’s why she withdrew her testimony.

Byun Seungmin is no different.

The prosecutor will probably dig into that point and try to tie him up as an accomplice, just like I did.

If Hwang Youngchan, who is sitting in the audience, is directing this trial, it will definitely happen.

“Your Honor, the courtroom is noisy, and facts that were never identified in advance have emerged as testimony. I request a recess.”

As the prosecutor spoke, the judge sighed and nodded.

“We will take a brief recess and resume in 10 minutes.”