Indirect Evidence
"Mr Mun Jeong-ho said he would call a lawyer."
There was no evidence yet that Mun Jeong-ho was the culprit who killed Yeong So-yeon.
However, he is increasingly convinced.
Mun Jeong-ho is definitely related to Yeong So-yeon's death.
"From now on, I will designate Mun Jeong-ho as a suspect in the Yeong So-yeon murder case. You applied for the arrest warrant, right?"
Team 3 office.
At Ju-won's words, Detective Kim Seok-ho nodded.
"Yes. The Team Leader just went to do it."
"Has Gu Yeong-seok's location at the time of the incident come out?"
Detective Kim Seok-ho handed Ju-won the records received from Gu Yeong-seok's telecommunications company.
"It is certain that Mr Gu Yeong-seok was at home. After the call with Mr Mun Jeong-ho, he headed to the victim's house."
At those words, Gu Yeong-seok, who was sitting opposite Detective Kim Seok-ho's desk, shouted.
"I told you I was right! That bastard killed a person!"
Detective Kim Seok-ho, glancing at Gu Yeong-seok who had a face full of injustice, asked Ju-won.
"But if Mun Jeong-ho really is the culprit, why did he lie? It would be revealed that he was lying just by checking Gu Yeong-seok's mobile phone location."
"Because there's no evidence yet that Mun Jeong-ho is the culprit. He was confident, that he wouldn't be caught."
Ju-won glanced at Gu Yeong-seok.
Where did the windbreaker he was wearing until just a moment ago go? Gu Yeong-seok is wearing a short-sleeved shirt.
Ju-won spat out a small voice to Detective Kim Seok-ho.
"Did you send the windbreaker for testing too?"
"Yes. He hesitated a bit but handed it over immediately. Saying he has nothing to hide, so go ahead and test it..."
"Ah, yes. What about Ms Yeong So-yeon's house?"
"They said they collected all bloodstains near where the table was and sent them to the National Forensic Service a moment ago."
Detective Kim Seok-ho glanced at the watch on his wrist and continued.
"Since we need to get Mun Jeong-ho's arrest warrant as quickly as possible, I requested it urgently."
"Evidence that Mun Jeong-ho is the culprit needs to come out."
"Exactly. Ah, I just looked through the materials transferred from Gangnam Station, but there was nothing. It seems these guys concluded it was suicide from the start and didn't even start an investigation."
At Detective Kim Seok-ho's words, Ju-won sighed.
'Ha. Then where could the evidence be... no, does it even exist? If it's a perfect crime...'
Evidence for Mun Jeong-ho, who appears to be the most likely suspect, hasn't come out, and the materials transferred from Gangnam Station, the previous investigative agency, aren't much help either.
This feels like the whole world is pushing his back telling him not to solve the case.
As Ju-won sighed, Terra's voice was heard.
[Mr Ju-won, there is no perfect crime. At least as long as I am here. For now, interrogate Mun Jeong-ho and wait for the results from the National Forensic Service.]
'But what if we don't get much from the NFS either?'
[That is unlikely. The Republic of Korea's forensic science techniques are highly developed. If there is a clue to the perpetrator, no matter how small, they won't miss it.]
But at that moment.
Words that broke Ju-won's will, which was trying to muster even a little strength, were heard.
"An warrant might not be issued for this?"
It was Team Leader Gu Jin-gu who entered with a troubled expression.
"Why, Team Leader?"
"The warrant review, it's assigned to the judge who didn't issue a warrant for the special violence perpetrator last time either. What do we do, Inspector Lee?"
This is trouble.
If the arrest warrant is dismissed, there is a high probability that the search warrant will also be dismissed.
[To prevent the concealment of potential additional evidence, Mun Jeong-ho must be arrested.]
As Ju-won sighed once more, Terra spoke.
[Go to the judge in charge of the warrant.]
'What?'
[You must get the warrant. Meet the judge.]
[Do you remember the thesis you read a few days ago? The study on proving guilt in violent crimes using indirect evidence.]
A short while later, in front of Gangjung District Court.
Climbing the steep stairs, Ju-won nodded.
Not exactly, but he remembers vaguely.
It was a thesis containing cases where the perpetrators' charges were recognised without direct evidence.
[According to known information, the judge in charge of Mun Jeong-ho's warrant is a very objective person. Before the law, he has a tendency neither to sympathise with the victim nor despise the perpetrator.]
'So that thesis is needed?'
[Yes, I will review it for you from now on, so memorise it. It will help in persuading the judge.]
At that time.
"Understood. Then we will conclude the questioning here."
Gangjung District Court, interrogation room.
At the warrant judge's words, Mun Jeong-ho and his lawyer stood up from their seats.
"Please take good care of it."
"Yes."
Leaving behind the judge's dry words, Mun Jeong-ho and his lawyer left the interrogation room.
Just as the judge was neatly stacking documents and about to stand up,
Bang!
The door opened.
And the one who entered was Ju-won.
At such a Ju-won, the judge's gaze turned slightly.
But that was all. Moving his gaze back to the documents, he wrapped the files in a cloth. Then he replaced a greeting with a dry voice.
"You're a famous person."
"I am Detective Lee Ju-won from Gangjung Station."
"Yes."
Having tied the cloth full of document bundles tightly, the judge finally raised his head.
It was a face that seemed to know well why Ju-won came here.
He opened his mouth.
"You came because of Mr Mun Jeong-ho's arrest warrant, right?"
"Yes, I have something to tell you regarding that..."
"It will be dismissed."
At the truly emotionless, mechanical tone, Ju-won's eyes widened.
"Pardon?"
"His identity is clear and there is no fear of flight. He seems to be reflecting sufficiently too. There is no reason to grant the warrant issuance. Request a warrant again with new evidence."
The judge was firm.
Just as he was about to lift the tightly tied cloth bundle, Ju-won's words caught him.
"Mun Jeong-ho gave false testimony. If he isn't the culprit, there is no reason to give such testimony."
"I know. But as the lawyer claimed, it is highly likely Mr Mun Jeong-ho spoke randomly because his psychological state was unstable."
The judge's dry face looking at Ju-won.
To control people's lives without leaning to one side, does one have to be this cold?
The judge continued speaking while lifting the cloth bundle.
"If you suspect him that much, find other evidence and come back. You know you can't request a warrant again with the same evidence..."
"Supreme Court of Korea precedents state that proof of criminal facts does not necessarily have to be made with direct evidence alone."
"What... did you say?"
The judge, holding the cloth bundle in his right hand, frowned.
"That means if indirect evidence is judged to have comprehensive probative value in relation to the overall evidence, criminal facts based on it can be recognised."
The judge's sharp gaze looking at Ju-won.
Then the judge smirked.
Is he daring to talk about the law to a judge right now?
The judge put the cloth bundle he was holding back down on the table.
"The detective's words are also correct. However, what should be prioritised primarily is direct evidence of murder..."
"Mr Mun Jeong-ho said he suspected Mr Gu Yeong-seok of murder. And he came all the way to Gangjung Station, quite far from his home, to make a tip. A tip mixed with lies. What reason does Mr Mun Jeong-ho have to do that?"
The air in the room became chilly.
Not only mentioning the law in front of a judge, but cutting off a judge's words.
How dare he, it's something that cannot happen inside a courtroom.
The judge, glaring at Ju-won for a moment, opened his mouth calmly.
"As I said a moment ago, as per the lawyer's claim, it is valid that he was so shocked by the victim's death that he couldn't think properly."
"So he lied? right to the face of Mr Gu Yeong-seok who knew the truth? It was a lie with intent. He did it to frame Gu Yeong-seok as the culprit."
However, no matter how emotionless a judge is, a human must be a human.
Perhaps reaching a limit, the judge's face contorted more severely than a moment ago.
"What are you doing right now, Detective?"
Did he come all the way here daring to teach the law to a judge?
Just as strength was about to enter the judge's eyes, Ju-won spat out words.
"It is also stated in the ruling of the daughter cyanide murder case that occurred in 2003. Although there was no direct evidence, the first trial, the appeal trial, and the Supreme Court all recognised the defendant as guilty. That's not all. There is a similar precedent in 2017 as well."
"...."
"The structure of Mr Mun Jeong-ho's statement was false. While claiming she was a lover he really cherished, there was no anger towards the culprit. We must look at the entire case, not just Mun Jeong-ho's single testimony."
At Ju-won's words, the judge was silent for a while.
It was impossible to know what he was thinking at all.
Because he was just looking at Ju-won with an unfathomable gaze.
But suddenly.
Swish— swoosh—
The judge began to untie the cloth bundle he had tied.
"Judge, what..."
"I will review it again."
"Pardon?"
"Instead, you must also make an effort to find additional evidence, Detective. The judge in charge of the trial might be different from me."
Eventually, sitting back in the chair, the judge took out all the documents and began to flip through them.
"I'll tell them to review the search and seizure warrant for Mr Mun Jeong-ho's communication records again too."
The judge's heart was persuaded by Ju-won's words.
"Thank you."
Ju-won bowed his head, and the judge nodded.
Just as Ju-won was coming out into the hallway, his mobile phone rang.
It was a call from Detective Kim Seok-ho.
And as soon as Ju-won put the phone to his ear, Detective Kim Seok-ho's bright voice, which he heard for the first time, was heard.
"Yes, Detective. What..."
-Contact just came from the National Forensic Service, they say Mun Jeong-ho's DNA was found in Ms Yeong So-yeon's bloodstains! It's a thin hair, but they even figured out when it fell by analysing the root condition, that bastard Mun Jeong-ho was indeed the culprit!
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