"Opposing counsel, may I ask a question?"

"The deceased, under the circumstance of having filled their stomach with Guanyin Earth."

"Venturing outside, fighting with wild dogs over food, rummaging through trash bins only to find a few moldy pieces of bread and buns, in your eyes..."

Xu Liang leaned forward, eyes lowered, his sharp gaze fixed firmly on Zhang Hao.

His voice echoed in everyone's ears.

"Is it theft?"

"Is it shameful stealing?"

"Please answer me directly!!!"

Suddenly.

The atmosphere in the courtroom was immediately tense, and everyone present began to breathe cautiously, fearing that the sound of inhaling might attract the attention of others.

Yet correspondingly, Xu Liang's questioning also subconsciously emerged in their minds...

The deceased was a thief...

The deceased was stealing!?

"I..."

Zhang Hao's complexion changed.

Previously, he only focused on defending Duan Feipeng and Du Ze, trying to find an angle.

But now, being questioned like this by Xu Liang... his mood dramatically shifted!

Accusing the deceased of being a thief!?

Zhang Hao's expression turned serious, his emotions tense, and he hurriedly spoke:

"What I mean is, legally speaking, the deceased's actions constitute theft!"

"He infringed on the bakery's ownership rights!!!"

From a legal perspective, the items in the bakery's trash bin have not undergone a transfer of ownership and still belong to the bakery.

At this time, any touch by others will lead to an infringement of ownership.

But...

"So, even if it's just a piece of moldy bread or a bun that a normal person would avoid... even if it has been thrown into the trash bin, the deceased isn't allowed to take it!?"

Xu Liang's face turned cold, his tone harder.

"Even when he's extremely hungry, even if he would die!?"

In Eastern Country, there's a law called emergency defense.

What is emergency defense? It applies in urgent moments when your life is threatened, allowing you to do something extraordinary to avoid danger.

For example.

When someone points a gun at your head, forcing you to steal money, you won't be labeled as a thief or part of a criminal gang afterwards.

Or when you're on the brink of starvation.

At that point, if there's a protected animal beside you, you can kill it for food!

But the deceased...

"According to surveillance and testimonies."

"The deceased hadn't reached a desperate situation, and did not meet the criteria for emergency defense!"

Zhang Hao's face tightened, his hands clenched as he spoke.

"As it doesn't qualify for emergency defense, legally it constitutes theft!"

Still talking about theft...

Shi Shan rubbed his forehead, not stopping the debate between the two.

The angle proposed by Zhang Hao... even if court recess wouldn't work.

Thus, now a result must be determined!

Otherwise...

The infamous insults could drown Shi Shan!

Upon considering this.

Shi Shan and others turned to look at the plaintiff's bench.

And at this moment.

Xu Liang also stood up, a hint of anger in his eyes, sternly questioning.

"Then may I ask, does the law stipulate..."

"That a ten-year-old child must receive compulsory education!?"

"Does the law stipulate that a citizen must be granted the most basic human rights!?"

"Does it stipulate..."

"That even a beggar is a person!?"

The three questions instantly made Zhang Hao's heart skip a beat, his eyes wide open.

According to the law, compulsory education is mandatory; as long as they're children within Eastern Country, they must receive compulsory education, with tuition covered by the government during this period.

And the deceased?

While other children were attending school and reciting, he scurried through the city's sewers like a rat.

Yes, just like a rat.

A rat that everyone wants gone!

The smell emanating from his body and his actions instinctively caused disgust at first sight!

"No, what I mean is..."

Zhang Hao racked his brain, beads of sweat emerged on his forehead.

"The deceased's special circumstances should be treated specially, and what you're saying is irrelevant to this case..."

"Irrelevant? How is it irrelevant!?"

Xu Liang pressed on, not giving the opponent any breathing space.

"Let me ask you, if the deceased had not received compulsory education, would he recognize the words above!?"

Zhang Hao was shocked, about to speak up to explain.

But Xu Liang preemptively spoke.

"He doesn't!"

"The deceased involved in this case did not recognize the writing 'No Touching' on the trash bin!"

"Then may I ask again, without recognizing the sign, did the deceased have subjective intent to steal!?"

Under the law, judging a person mainly considers two parts.

One, the consequences of their crime.

Two, their subjective intent when committing the crime!

As for the deceased, it's evident.

He didn't know this sign, so he only thought he was rummaging the trash bin as a daily routine, not stealing.

"From the perspective of subjective intent, the deceased did not steal!"

"Opposing counsel, your viewpoint is simply quibbling, unreasonable without any logic!"

Xu Liang was angry, his voice contained strong personal emotions.

No one at the scene stopped him.

"Furthermore, this is the so-called 'unfounded' accusation!"

"You're sullying a deceased's reputation!"

If Zhang Hao's claim that the deceased's actions were proven true...

What would happen?

All of Eastern Country wouldn't have a single beggar or homeless person!

Only droves of thieves and robbers!

Anyone rummaging through any trash bins inherently carries the intent to steal; it is illegal, criminal, an act of repeated disregard for the law!!!

Zhang Hao was covered in sweat.

He swallowed, wiped the sweat off his forehead, very anxious inside.

The opponent obviously didn't present evidence, nor expressed a specific counterpoint.

Yet the pressure is unrelenting.

Why?

Because of righteousness!

Indeed, Zhang Hao realized, Xu Liang was stepping outside the case, intending to elevate his words to a higher level, using righteousness to pressure him!