Tokyo: Are you even a proper lawyer?

Next, Masashi Akiyama spoke on behalf of the defense.

He did not deny that the three patients died from drug overdoses, but firmly denied that the client was the murderer.

He presented the defense's arguments.

This was a meticulously planned frame-up case.

The real culprit was an insider who had access to and the power to control large quantities of controlled drugs, was familiar with hospital operations, and had the ability to tamper with surveillance footage.

This person was none other than Dr. Kosuke Kobayashi, who had a close relationship with the deceased, Junko Imai, and was a prime suspect.

Masashi Akiyama presented a copy of the spare diary provided by pharmacist Nakamura in court, pointing out that Kosuke Kobayashi had unusually received medication with the same drug composition as the deceased's body on the eve of the incident.

He summoned Ms. Nakamura to testify in court.

Ms. Nakamura appeared very nervous in the witness stand, but under Masashi Akiyama's guidance, she clearly stated the reasons for taking the notes and identified Kosuke Kobayashi's signature.

However, when it was the prosecutor's turn to cross-examine Ms. Nakamura, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.

"Witness Nakamura, you claim that this diary was written privately by you in order to leave behind authentic evidence, is that right?"

"Yes, yes."

"Then, why didn't you proactively hand over this crucial piece of evidence during the initial police investigation after the incident? Why did you only suddenly remember it after the defense lawyer approached you?"

"I...I was scared..."

"What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of Dr. Kobayashi? Or are you afraid of... telling the truth?" The prosecutor pressed on relentlessly.

"I...I'm scared..." Ms. Nakamura's voice began to tremble.

"According to our investigation, Ms. Nakamura, your daughter is preparing for entrance exams at a prestigious private medical school in Tokyo, where tuition is very high. Just two weeks ago, your account received a remittance from an anonymous overseas account, the amount of which was just enough to cover your daughter's first year's tuition and accommodation fees. Can you explain the source of this money?"

The courtroom erupted in uproar!

Ms. Nakamura's eyes widened as if struck by lightning; her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word.

"Objection! This is irrelevant to this case!" Masashi Akiyama immediately stood up to object.

"Your Honor, this directly relates to the credibility of the witness testimony and whether there was any motive for perjury!"

After a moment's thought, the judge allowed the prosecution to proceed.

"Ms. Nakamura, have you received any financial assistance from defense lawyers or individuals associated with the defense in exchange for testifying in a way that benefits the defendant?"

"No! I didn't!" Ms. Nakamura stammered in denial. "That money... I don't know who made that money..."

"So, do you admit that your previous testimony regarding Dr. Kobayashi obtaining medication was given under some kind of pressure or inducement? Is it possible that this log was altered or contained misleading records?"

"I...I..."

Ms. Nakamura's psychological defenses completely collapsed. She covered her face and wept uncontrollably, unable to give a clear answer anymore.

Her credibility crumbled under the prosecutor's sharp attacks and the mysterious remittance.

Masashi Akiyama's heart sank.

This is an elaborate trap!

The other party had long known that Ms. Nakamura's daughter was short of money for school, and used a remittance of unknown origin to plant the seeds for bribing a witness in advance.

Ms. Nakamura may have initially genuinely wanted to testify, but her own weaknesses became the most venomous sword piercing the defense.

"Your Honor, given the significant doubts surrounding the witness's testimony and the potential for perjury, I request that this witness's testimony and related evidence be temporarily excluded!"

The judge agreed.

Immediately afterwards, the prosecution summoned their witness, Sato, the head of the security department.

Sato testified that on the night of the incident, he did see Miyuki Nagai enter the dispensing room outside of the designated time, and she lingered there for a long time with a flustered expression.

He also claimed that after the riots, he heard Miyuki Nagai say things like "those scum should all die" to her colleagues.

This aligns with police records that Miyuki Nagai suffered an emotional breakdown after the riots and posted extremely negative comments on her private social media accounts.

Then, it was Kobayashi Kosuke's turn to appear in court.

He was dressed in a well-fitting suit, his expression somber and solemn.

Under questioning by prosecutors, he admitted that he and Junko Imai were in a romantic relationship and expressed deep remorse for failing to protect her.

However, he firmly denied any involvement in the drug theft and murder.

He explained that the medication he picked up that night was for the emergency treatment of a special patient and was in accordance with procedure; however, pharmacist Nakamura did not understand the specific circumstances.

He appeared angry and aggrieved at Akiyama Masashi's previous implication about the hospital's dark secrets, claiming that it was malicious slander and a diversionary tactic by the defense to exonerate the defendant.

"More than anyone, I want to find the real culprit and get justice for Junko! But I cannot accept smearing my and the hospital's reputation just to exonerate a suspect!"

Kosuke Kobayashi's eyes were red, and he looked quite sincere.

When Masashi Akiyama asked cross-examinations, Kosuke Kobayashi was clearly prepared and answered flawlessly.

He even turned around and accused Masashi Akiyama.

"Attorney, I know you want to save your client, but solving cases requires evidence, not spreading rumors. The real culprit may still be at large, while you're wasting your time investigating innocent medical staff!"

Miyuki Nagai sat expressionlessly in the defendant's dock, seemingly unresponsive to everything around her, her eyes growing increasingly vacant.

Just as Masashi Akiyama was organizing his thoughts and preparing for the next round of questioning, trying to find a breakthrough by examining subtle details such as the specific method of poisoning and contradictions in the timeline...

"Aaaaaaahh ...

A piercing scream suddenly erupted from the defendant's seat!

It's Miyuki Nagai!

Without warning, she suddenly sprang up from her chair, clutching her head tightly with both hands, her fingers digging deep into her hair, her eyes wide open to the extreme.

She was trembling violently, her teeth chattering, and her gaze darted wildly across the courtroom, finally settling on Kobayashi Kosuke in the witness stand.

"Birds! Black birds! So many! They're eating Junko-neechan!!!"

She screamed and pointed at the other person.

"It was you! You released it! I saw it! That night! You went to Junko's place! You gave her something! It wasn't medicine! It wasn't medicine!!!"

She fell into a state of complete madness.

Then, Miyuki Nagai began frantically slapping her head, tearing at her clothes, and kicking her legs wildly.

"Snowflakes! It's snowing again! White... red... all red!!! Ah!!!"

The courtroom erupted into chaos!

The bailiffs rushed forward to try to control her, but she was incredibly strong and struggled wildly, crying out in broken words that no one could understand.

Gasps erupted from the audience, and the judge banged his gavel repeatedly.

Kosuke Kobayashi's expression changed slightly as he testified in the witness stand, but he quickly regained his somber look and sighed.

"Look, her spirits have indeed...sigh."

Masashi Akiyama's heart sank to the bottom.

Although Miyuki Nagai's testimony pointed to Kosuke Kobayashi, it was made in a state of madness and had no evidentiary value. It was simply considered to be the ramblings of a mentally unstable person, which only confirmed the fact that she was mentally unstable and made her image as the murderer more reasonable in the eyes of the jury.

"Your Honor! The defendant is clearly mentally unstable and unable to participate properly in the trial! I request an immediate halt to the proceedings so that a psychiatric evaluation can be conducted on the defendant!"

The prosecutor's lawyer immediately raised his voice in a suggestion.

Looking at Miyuki Nagai, who was still screaming and struggling despite being barely restrained by the bailiffs, and then at the chaotic courtroom, the judge had no choice but to slam his gavel down heavily:

"Given the defendant's sudden and severe mental breakdown, this court hereby rules that this hearing is temporarily suspended! The defendant shall be immediately transferred to a designated medical institution for compulsory psychiatric evaluation! A decision on whether and how to continue the trial will be made after the evaluation results are available! Court adjourned!"

The gavel fell with a dull thud.

Miyuki Nagai was forcibly restrained by bailiffs and medical personnel, and was injected with sedatives before being dragged away from the courtroom.

"The black bird... what you gave me... wasn't medicine..."