Chapter 1612 Reexamination and thorough investigation, where to start
Soon, Zhao Zhixian led several officers and Liu Dadao to rush to Chen Dacheng's home.
"Sir, this is the file on Chen Erlang's wife-killing case. Please take a look at it." Magistrate Zhao handed the file he carried to Zhu Ping'an with both hands.
While Zhu Pingan was flipping through the files, Zhixian Zhao said at the side, "Sir, I have also carefully reviewed the case files of Chen Erlang's case. The witnesses, physical evidence, documentary evidence, and Chen Erlang's oral confession have formed a complete picture. According to the chain of evidence, Chen Erlang was also interrogated once, and Chen Erlang also personally admitted to killing his wife.”
Chen Dacheng couldn't help but get excited after hearing what Magistrate Zhao said, and said angrily: "Your Excellency, please forgive me for disagreeing. My brother was beaten into a trick because he was forced to do it. My brother is a weak scholar, and my parents have never been willing to beat him. A finger can only be eaten and served by torture. After being beaten half to death, I can only confess."
Zhao Zhixian spread his hands and said helplessly, "Clan Chief Chen, it is undeniable that the previous magistrate used torture when trying cases, but when I interrogated Chen Erlang, I didn't use torture. When asked in court, he admitted it himself."
"Lord County Lord, my brother was scared of being beaten. He was beaten half to death last time. If he doesn't admit it, he will be tortured and beaten until he admits it; if you bring him to the court for interrogation, he will have no choice but to admit it because he is afraid of being tortured again." Chen Dacheng's eyes were red and he couldn't help but choked up, "My brother is so pitiful, last time. I went to see him in prison. The handsome scholar who used to be so charming has almost lost his appearance."
"Clan Chief Chen, please be patient."
Zhu Ping'an comforted Chen Dacheng and then waved to Zhixian Zhao, "Zhixian Zhao took a step and said."
Zhu Pingan pulled Zhixian Zhao aside and whispered, "Zhixian Zhao, this is a matter of life and death. You have to be careful. Once the punishment is revealed, there is no chance to correct it. As a husband, who would have the heart to kill his wife because he said, "I am incompetent and I have not been able to pass the examination for being a scholar all year round"; why would I do it after killing my wife? Throwing away the head is so unreasonable, and..."
Zhu Pingan pointed out the doubtful points of the case to Zhao Zhixian one by one, and then said with a serious face, "So, I also ask Zhao Zhixian to work with me to retry the case. If there is indeed a mistake in this case, Zhao Zhixian will not hesitate to retry it." If the case is indeed correct, then the original verdict will be upheld and there will be no disadvantages."
Hearing this, Zhixian Zhao couldn't help but think.
Zhu Ping'an pulled him to reiterate the case. It was indeed for his own good and he participated in the retrial. If the case of Chen Erlang's wife murder was overturned, then not only would he have no fault, but he would also be credited for the retrial; if Chen Erlang If the wife-killing case is maintained, it will only take some time at most, and it will have no adverse impact on myself.
On the contrary, if Zhu Ping'an does not involve himself in the retrial, but retrials the case by himself, and if Chen Erlang's wife-murdering case is overturned, even though it was the former county magistrate who originally convicted him, the case now belongs to him He has also brought him to trial, and if the case is reversed, he will be guilty of neglect of duty.
Moreover, Zhu Pingan has a high official position, and he took the lead in re-examining the case. Even if problems arise in the future, Zhu Pingan, who is a senior official, will be responsible.
Thinking of this, Zhixian Zhao nodded heavily and said with cupped hands: "Okay, then I'll listen to your lord. If your lord wants a retrial, then I will accompany your lord to retrial and thoroughly investigate the case. Whatever I need to do, I will definitely do it." I will do my best to cooperate."
"Thank you, Magistrate Zhao, for your support." Zhu Pingan expressed his gratitude. With the cooperation of Magistrate Zhao, who is familiar with the local customs, it will be much more convenient to retry this case and save a lot of energy and time.
"Your Majesty, you have offended me. Your Majesty invited me to participate in the retrial as a way of taking care of me. I want to thank you." Zhao Zhixian waved his hands repeatedly, thanked Zhu Ping'an, and then said , "It's just that a year has passed since this case. The scene where the witness was found has been destroyed, the victim has been buried, the body has rotted, and there are many other first-hand information." All the information no longer exists, and it will be very difficult to re-examine the case thoroughly now."
Zhu Ping'an said calmly and confidently: "Some evidence has been destroyed, but what about some evidence. It can't be destroyed. Although it is not easy, the truth cannot be concealed."
"I don't know where to start the investigation," Zhao Zhixian asked.
"Start with the victim's head." Zhu Pingan said without hesitation. This is the biggest and most prominent doubt point in Zhu Pingan's case. Other doubt points are highly subjective. Only this doubt point exists objectively. Currently, there are only This doubt can be identified through investigation.
"What? Start with the victim's head?!" Hearing this, Zhixian Zhao opened his mouth in surprise and said in confusion, "Sir, the victim's head has been traced since the incident. It has never been found. According to Chen Erlang's confession of abandoning the forest, the former magistrate sent officers and even offered a reward. After more than ten days of searching, the entire forest was turned upside down. The victim's head was not found. The subordinate also sent people to search the woods, but nothing was found. He may have been buried in the belly of wild dogs and wolves. How can we investigate this?"
Zhixian Zhao believes that a year has passed and the victim's head was not found despite the extensive searches at the time of the crime. Time has passed and it is even more impossible to find the victim's head now.
Zhixian Zhao continued without waiting for Zhu Ping'an's answer, "Moreover, even if the victim's head is found, it can only further prove that Chen Erlang killed his wife."
Zhao Zhixian tactfully reminded Zhu Ping'an that the idea of starting the investigation from the victim's head was wrong and in the wrong direction.
Hearing this, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but shake his head and smile. Zhao Zhixian actually fell into inertial thinking.
"Master Zhao, the search for the head does not start from the woods where Chen Erlang confessed. Moreover, finding the head does not prove that Chen Erlang was killed, but the opposite. The result may overturn the entire case."
Zhu Pingan said slowly, his voice was not loud, but in Zhao Zhixian's ears it was like a thunder.
“Ah? If we don’t start the investigation from the woods where Chen Erlang confessed, then where to start? Finding the head does not prove that Chen Erlang killed his wife, but subverts the entire case?! This, this, this starts from Why talk about it..."
Zhao The magistrate felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He stayed there like a piece of wood. His mind was at a loss and his eyes were full of question marks. I felt that my thoughts could not keep up with Zhu Pingan's. I could understand every word of Mr. Zhu's words, but why? I don’t understand Master Zhu’s words at all.
From the perspective of Zhao Zhixian, Zhu Ping'an's train of thought was like an antelope hanging its horns, with no trace to be found. He couldn't keep up with it at all. Not only could he not keep up, he couldn't even see it, so he couldn't follow it.
If we don’t investigate from the woods where Chen Erlang confessed, how could we start the investigation on such a big day? Also, why would finding the head overturn the entire case?!
Zhao Zhixian seemed to have something in his mind Ten thousand whys. (End of this chapter)