After Reborn, I Become a Billionaire novel Chapter 1027

Chapter 1027 In Court (5) Reverse Testimony

In the courtroom, it was tense again.
"Mr Simmons, through our recent reasoning and evidence, even this entire court agrees with my viewpoint that my client can't have had a chance to see this magazine in recent years. You suddenly question your previous facts. Don't you think it's a bit unreasonable and even self-contradictory?!"
"I admit I didn't consider everything earlier, I didn't expect you to be so cunning and use diversionary tactics that I couldn't defend against."
"Mr Simmons, what we need in court are reasonable evidence and logical reasoning, not just saying whatever we want. Please don't forget your duty as a lawyer!"
"Your honour," said the plaintiff's lawyer, who seemed unwilling to argue with the defendant's lawyer any further. "The defendant's attorney has been maliciously guiding us towards accepting his viewpoint all along. His arguments are full of loopholes, such as only 500 copies sold or disappearing from circulation after release, these are baseless claims! As long as magazines exist on market shelves they can continue circulating, definitely longer than 8 years!"
"Your honour," responded the defendant's attorney, who appeared somewhat agitated now too. "My point of view is not unfounded! The answer was arrived at through witness testimony which was deemed acceptable by the court too. Now it is Plaintiff's counsel who is being unreasonable by being aggressive..."
"Your honour..." began Plaintiff's counsel trying to interject.
The defence cut him off directly saying, "I have proof that shows my client's innocence."
"What proof?" asked the judge.
"I have here all of my client's design works from when she worked in the industry along with feedback recognized by markets including numerous international awards won over time. My client's design ability speaks for itself. She isn't on the same level as the plaintiff at all, so how could someone outstandingly famous like her resort to plagiarism? Given her big reputation, she knows being caught plagiarizing would lead inevitably lead to her downfall. Why would she take such a risk? Logically speaking, there is no way this makes sense except for one possibility, Besse simply did not know that she may be guilty of plagiarism because of the Angel collection."
"I object! All points made by the defence were based purely on speculation without any concrete evidence." Retorted the prosecution, emotionally.
"So, Mr Simmons, can you provide evidence to prove that our client has indeed read the magazine that has disappeared from the market in the past 4 years? Can you prove that my client has indeed seen Phantom's original design?"
"I... " Wynne Simmons was somewhat speechless.
"Mr Simmons, evidence is indeed needed in court. Not only to defend my client's innocence but even if my client were to be found guilty and sentenced, credible evidence is still needed to prove it. Otherwise, it would just be your speculation or even malicious slander!" The defendant's lawyer had a strong momentum.
"You're talking nonsense!"
"Quiet!" The judge banged his gavel. "This legal defence ends here. This court will make a judgment on the plagiarism case after a half-hour recess!"
Saying this, the judge and jury were ready to leave.
"Your honour!" The defence stepped forward again and shouted. "Your honour, I have evidence to prove that my client did not plagiarize Phantom's work at all. On the contrary, Phantom plagiarized someone else's work!"
As soon as his words fell off his tongue, there was an uproar throughout the courtroom.
What a reversal!
The plaintiff became a defendant.
But this unexpected turn of events at this moment made everyone excited.
"Quiet!"
Everyone calmed down slightly then Susan in the audience couldn't help but become excited as well. Finally came the climax she had been waiting for!
She couldn't help but look towards Besse, who looked quite shocked at this point because she thought everything would end there. All points discussed with her lawyers were over with no one telling her about these follow-ups before now.
"I object!" The plaintiff's lawyer shouted. "This trial only deals with Besse's plagiarism case. No other irrelevant cases."
"Your honour, this relates to whether or not my client committed plagiarism. It also concerns who exactly is the author of the original work and whether or not 'Phantom' has any qualifications to accuse my client of copying her work!"
"Allowed." Nodded the judge
"May I present my witness?"
"Yes, please."
A woman walked into the courtroom looking like she had some age on her already.
"Who are you?"
"I was the former editor-in-chief of the Conspiracy Design Society," the woman said. "My name is Zeny Hutcherson."
"Ms Hutcherson, have you ever seen this work before?" the defence lawyer placed the design papers of the Angel collection in front of her.
"Yes, I have seen it," Zeny replied.
"Did you see it in this magazine?"
"No," Zeny stated plainly. "I am seeing this magazine for the first time today."
"As someone in the design industry, you haven't seen this design magazine before?"
"The Water Ripple Design Magazine was never popular back then and was rarely recognized by its peers. I didn't pay attention to their magazines, which is normal." Zeny had a certain status in Northfield's design circle and spoke with some arrogance.
"Okay." The defence was only trying to reiterate how unpopular this magazine was and continued asking, "When and where did you see this design?"
"I've seen it at a design competition 9 years ago. This work appeared there."
"Is the designer of this work in that competition her?" The defence lawyer pointed at Minerva.
"No," Zeny confirmed firmly.
The audience began to stir again as her words fell silent.
"So who is it?" The defence lawyer asked again.
"Hannah Cooper," Zeny answered calmly. "Because real names are required for participation in competitions, I know her real name is Hannah Cooper."
Susan sitting among the audience suddenly turned red-eyed with tears streaming down her face.
It had been long since she heard that name from someone else last time.
"Hannah Cooper?" The prosecution lawyer deliberately elongated his tone. "Are you sure it's not Minerva Bird, who is known by 'Phantom'?"
"I'm sure it isn't," said Zeny confidently. "This competition required participants to come on-site for face-to-face designing. As a judge myself, I saw them personally. I am certain that Hannah Cooper came instead of her."