After Reborn, I Become a Billionaire novel Chapter 1025

Chapter 1025 In Court (3) Reversal

"My deduction is as follows," Len replied.
"In other words, my client had seen this magazine eight years ago and had it stored in her memory. Recently, she took it out and plagiarized from it."
As soon as he spoke, people began to laugh.
Was the plaintiff's lawyer trying to convict his client?!
The court hadn't even ruled yet and he was already surrendering.
"If a designer has an impression of a design, they will always remember it. Once they have that impression, they won't forget for many years. Besse is an internationally renowned designer with exceptional design abilities. It's entirely possible that she saw this design eight years ago and recently plagiarized from it again." Len said bluntly. As he said, he was also defending Phantom.
In the world of design, plagiarism is truly intolerable.
"Is there any possibility that my client recently saw Phantom's work and then copied from it?" speculated Besse's lawyer.
To everyone present, the counsel of the defence seemed to be digging a hole for his client constantly. Although seemingly incomprehensible, those present seemed to understand what he meant. After all, Besse's lawyer was also from Northfield. Northfield's people uphold their knowledge copyright on their territory, which was understandable. Everybody believed that Besse was doomed this time around.
"It's unlikely," Len said. "This magazine couldn't have been kept for so long unless someone deliberately collected them like Phantom, who would keep it because her work was published in it. And since Besse is a foreigner, it's improbable that she could've obtained this magazine abroad since Northfield fashion designs weren't recognized internationally at that time; thus, the magazine wouldn't have had any chance of being circulated overseas. The only possibility would be if Besse accidentally stumbled upon this magazine when it was released."
"Okay, thank you, Mr Shaw."
Len exited.
The defence began again, "Your honour, I just received confirmation from the publisher of this magazine stating that only 500 copies were sold, and there wasn't much buzz surrounding its release within the industry circle. It quickly fell into obscurity. Therefore, it would've been almost impossible for my client to come across such an obscure publication within recent times."
"Objection!" the prosecution said. "Just now, your witness made it clear that for a designer, even if they saw a design 8 years ago, a well-known designer can design it now. That means Besse didn't copy this magazine recently, but saw it 8 years ago and only used it to plagiarize now."
"I agree with the plaintiff's lawyer. My client did see this magazine 8 years ago and then plagiarized from it."
"If you say so, what is there left to argue?"
The defence looked at the judge and said, "Your honour, do you agree with my point of view and that of the plaintiff's attorney?"
The judge looked at the jury who had discussed for a while before giving him a clear answer.
"This court agrees with both lawyers' views." Replied the judge.
"Then just announce the verdict!" said the plaintiff's attorney. He thought it was an easy lawsuit to win without much effort since the defendant surrendered on their own accord.
"Your honour, I have another question I want to ask my client." Requested the defence.
The judge hadn't spoken yet when the plaintiff's lawyer mocked, "Hurry up and make your client admit plagiarism and request leniency from the court."
"Watch your words." Reminded the judge.
"Yes."
"The Defendant's Attorney is allowed to ask questions of his client." Said the judge
"Thank you, Your Honour." The Defendant's Attorney bowed respectfully before turning back towards Besse, who remained calm throughout all these accusations against her work. She showed no emotional fluctuations despite her attorney denying her in various ways during this trial.
"Miss Besse, just now based on evidence provided by Plaintiff along with testimonies given in court today, we have determined that your Angel series is indeed copied from Phantom's original works."
"I didn't copy anything." Besse denied firmly.
"What evidence do you have that proves you didn't plagiarize?"
"I've never been to Northfield before nor seen Phantom Works before."
"While only 500 copies were sold of this magazine, as long as they circulated in the market there was a high possibility of them reaching into your hands. Even if according to facts, the chances of seeing this design recently are zero but eight years ago when the magazine first hit market circulation, all evidence points towards you having seen this design back then. What proof do you have for yourself?!"
Besse fell silent after hearing these accusations. The lawyer for the defendant was pressing Besse aggressively. It was clear that he was trying to force her to admit to plagiarism. Minerva, who was standing nearby, was enjoying the spectacle.
Besse could only blame herself for not being one in Northfield. Naturally, everyone from there would take the Phantom's side. But she was the real victim here. As Minerva felt pleased secretly, Besse suddenly spoke up, "I don't remember anything from four years ago."
The whole courtroom erupted in confusion and chaos.
"What does that mean?!" Some people in the audience shouted out.
"Quiet! Everyone remain calm!" The judge sternly ordered.
The court fell into silence again.
"Miss Besse, could you please speak more clearly? What do you mean by saying 'you don't remember anything from four years ago'?" asked the defence lawyer.
"I got into a serious car accident four years ago," Besse explained calmly. "I spent a year lying in bed and undergoing treatment at the hospital. The doctors even said I might become a vegetable at one point, but my family never gave up on me and kept fighting for me until I finally woke up again."
"But when I did wake up, I realized that I had lost all of my memories from before then. To me now, everything before that time is just a blank slate."
"Do you have any evidence to prove your amnesia?"
"I have an official diagnosis certificate issued by the hospital."
The lawyer quickly grabbed hold of it and handed it over to be examined by jury members.
"Objection!"
It suddenly dawned on the prosecution lawyer-he'd been tricked!
All along the defence lawyer had been arguing about how impossible it would be for his client to have seen Phantom's design recently since she could only have seen it eight years ago-everyone including the judge had agreed with him.
And now Besse saying she had lost her memory 4 years ago meant she could shake off her responsibility.
"This diagnosis certificate may not even be valid! Was it issued by a hospital in Northfield? According to my knowledge, Besse is not a common designer, and it would be easy for her to fake a certificate like this! I think that she could be pretending not to remember." The prosecution lawyer retorted, agitated and satirical.