33: It feels so good to be free!

Many people misunderstand legitimate defense, believing that they can only defend themselves when others attack them.

Of course, it's not surprising to have such a thought.

Because for a long time in the past, the determination of legitimate defense was very difficult, and the requirements were too harsh.

Forget about protecting your property; even if someone truly attacked you with a knife, as long as your counterattack time and force were inappropriate, you would still be sentenced.

After all, when someone is "currently attacking," very few people can seize that moment to counterattack.

Speaking of this, one cannot help but mention a certain man named "Brother Long."

Some people die, but their death is of great significance, and Brother Long was such a person.

He paid with his life to give the general public a good lesson on "legitimate defense."

After Brother Long, the country also began to attach importance to legitimate defense. In 2020, the "Two Highs and One Department" jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on the Application of the Legitimate Defense System."

It can be said that from that time on, our determination of legitimate defense finally had slightly clearer regulations.

However, regarding the point of protecting one's property, many people are still unclear about it.

However, according to the criminal law, causing injury to the other party in order to protect one's property also constitutes legitimate defense!

Personal rights are very important, and property rights are equally important.

Zhou Yun is now making it very clear that, in that situation, it cannot be unilaterally assumed that Sun Weitao's defense was only against the three urban management officers.

Because there were also a bunch of people outside, and so many engineering vehicles. If he was forcibly taken away, his house would definitely not be saved.

Therefore, he had to take certain defensive actions!

Causing minor injuries to three people to protect a house worth hundreds of thousands of yuan clearly did not exceed the necessary limits.

Ma Ruoqi's expression began to look bad, but she still insisted, "But this was a demolition act by the housing expropriation department..."

Zhou Yun heard this and directly said, "Oh? What if it was a demolition act? At that time, it was illegal; it was an infringement on our client's rights. There is no problem with him protecting his property!"

Seeing that the two were about to argue again, the Presiding Judge struck the gavel again.

"Alright, don't repeat what has already been said. If there are no other points, Court is now adjourned for half an hour."

After speaking, the Presiding Judge tapped the gavel again, but this time he tapped it very carefully.

There was no other way; their Court's gavel had been used for too long. If they used a little force, the hammerhead would fly off directly.

Imagine this: during a solemn trial, the Presiding Judge strikes the gavel, and the hammerhead flies off. That scene is too beautiful to imagine.

The Presiding Judge wanted to replace it, but those who are in the system basically know that it is very troublesome; it can only be repaired. Even if the cost of repairing it is more than buying a new one, it can still only be repaired.

During the recess, Sun Chenhui said with a worried look, "Lawyer Zhou, do you think we can win this?"

Zhou Yun smiled and said, "Put your heart at ease. The fact that they are calling for a half-hour recess means they are preparing to announce the verdict today."

"Moreover, the Procuratorate also supports a not-guilty verdict, so there will basically be no surprises."

The key was that the City Procuratorate's attitude was very clear this time, so Zhou Yun could now say with a hundred percent certainty that it would be a not-guilty verdict.

Ma Ruoqi put forward so many points, but none of them could stand. Zhou Yun refuted every single one of them, leaving her unable to respond.

Was the demolition illegal? Yes. Since it was illegal, it was not official business, and thus it was not the crime of obstructing official duties.

Was the demolition an infringement? Yes. Since it was an infringement, it was a proper legitimate defense, without exceeding any limits.

Ma Ruoqi clearly guessed this after seeing the recess arrangement, and her face became even uglier.

Sure enough, about half an hour later, the Presiding Judge returned and announced the verdict in Court!

"In summary, the opinions of the original defendant Sun Weitao, his defender, and the procurator from the Ning City Procuratorate who appeared in Court regarding the change of verdict to Sun Weitao's innocence are established, and this Court accepts them."

"In accordance with... the judgment is as follows:"

"The original defendant Sun Weitao is innocent."

"This judgment is the final judgment."

Upon hearing this verdict, Sun Chenhui, next to Zhou Yun, almost jumped up with excitement. It was so difficult, truly so difficult.

After his father was arrested, their whole family seemed to fall apart, and he couldn't even apply to be a police officer.

But now, he is finally innocent!

Seeing that the judgment had been completed, Sun Chenhui said, "Lawyer Zhou, thank you so much, truly thank you so much, I..."

If the current situation hadn't prevented it, he would have truly wanted to kowtow to the other party twice.

Zhou Yun smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I told you not to worry. This matter isn't over yet."

"Ah? Not over? What else is there?" Sun Chenhui asked, looking bewildered.

Wasn't this time to help his father get a not-guilty verdict? Now that he was innocent, what else could there be?

Zhou Yun smiled again and said, "Of course, it's to get back all the money your family gave before. What, you only care if your father is innocent, but not about the money you gave out?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Chenhui was stunned again. That's right, his family had given out three hundred thousand yuan before to get the other party to issue a letter of understanding.

Thinking of this, Sun Chenhui quickly asked, "Lawyer Zhou, this money... can it be recovered?"

Zhou Yun nodded, "Of course it can. The settlement agreement you signed before was a contract, but it was signed under duress based on your father's alleged crime."

"Now that your father has been found innocent, the previous contract has a clear and significant misunderstanding, and contracts with significant misunderstandings can be revoked."

"Today, we'll return to Dashan County, go to the Dashan County Court to apply for the revocation of the settlement agreement, and while we're at it, apply for your father's state compensation."

Sun Chenhui didn't know what to say anymore. This Zhou Lawyer was truly too unexpected.

"Alright, go get the judgment. I'll ask the judge a question on the way."

The two came before the Presiding Judge, and Zhou Yun immediately said, "Excuse me, I have a question for you. Now that he has been found innocent, can you notify the prison today?"

This was also a very important question, because according to regulations, as long as a person is acquitted, they should be released immediately.

The Presiding Judge smiled and said, "Don't worry, I've already notified them. You can just go directly. The release procedures there should take about two hours, but you'll definitely be able to pick him up today."

"Alright, thank you."

After thanking him, Zhou Yun led Sun Chenhui out of the Court: "Alright, call a car. We'll go to the prison to pick up your father, and then go back to Dashan County together."

...

At Ning City Fourth Prison, Sun Weitao was still pedaling the sewing machine as usual.

In the two years he had been in here, if nothing else, his sewing machine pedaling skills had become exceptionally proficient.

Just then, a fellow inmate next to him said, "Old Sun, you've been so distracted lately. What, are you still thinking that lawyer can get you out?"

"Don't even think about it. It's impossible. For a retrial to overturn a verdict to not guilty, do you know how strong your connections would have to be?"

There are talents everywhere in prison too; at least this fellow inmate is, he understands the law!

"It's better to work hard and wait to apply for parole..."

As soon as the 'know-it-all' inmate's words were halfway out, a prison guard walked over.

"Sun Weitao, Sun Weitao!"

Hearing the voice, Sun Weitao quickly stood at attention: "Here!"

The prison guard walked over and smiled, "No need for that, Sun Weitao. We just received a notice from the Court. Your case has been retried and the verdict changed to not guilty. You will be released today."

"Come with me, let's quickly complete the procedures."

Um... huh? Sun Weitao was stunned: "Not, not guilty?"

"That's right, it was just ruled today. Hurry up, don't dawdle," the prison guard urged.

Sun Weitao quickly nodded and followed, his mind still confused. He was actually... actually innocent!

That ridiculously young lawyer actually pulled it off?

Behind him, the inmate pedaling the sewing machine was dumbfounded. What happened? We were all supposed to pedal the sewing machine together, so how did you end up innocent?

The inmate felt heartbroken.

After haphazardly packing his belongings, he walked all the way to the prison gate. Looking at the world outside, Sun Weitao had a very surreal feeling.

He was innocent just like that? He was free just like that?

Just then, he saw two people standing in front.

"Chenhui? Lawyer Zhou? You..."

"Of course we came to pick you up and take you home. You are free now," Zhou Yun said with a smile.

Sun Weitao looked up at the sky in a daze, then suddenly began to cry loudly. After a few sobs, he laughed.

The feeling of freedom was truly wonderful.

Meanwhile, in Dashan County, Chai Yaoyang directly smashed his phone!

Sun Weitao was actually innocent! Someone who violently resisted demolition was actually found innocent!