Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 145 Eighteen Years Late
It was not without predictions that the evidence regarding the nature of the simulation experiment would be denied.

Undeterred, Kisaki Eri continued to ask, "Mr. Saegusa, eighteen years ago, another murder occurred in Beika Town, and you are also a person involved in the case, right?"

At this time, Sanzhi's mouth trembled and said: "That's right...but that case has been closed and has nothing to do with me."

"Objection! The case raised by the defense has nothing to do with this case!" Kujo objected again.

"No, this is about whether Mr. Saegusa is an uninterested witness," Kisaki Eri insisted.

The judge also said at this time: "Defense lawyer, please do not mention other issues that are not related to this case."

Upon hearing this, Sanzhi showed a smug look.

Jiujo's expression remained unchanged, but...

In the audience, Mitsurugi Reiji frowned and looked at Kujo Reiko - the timing of her "objection" just now was wrong!

From the beginning, the defense attorney should not have been allowed to ask this question, rather than waiting for the witness to answer and then making an "objection."

Based on Miken Reiji's understanding of Kujo, she shouldn't have made such an obvious mistake.

……

During the part where Naohiko Saegusa testified, the two sides clashed fiercely, but neither side was able to completely control the situation, and in the end...

dong dong——

"Silence, silence... The court will be adjourned for ten minutes and the trial will continue afterwards." The presiding judge could no longer bear it and announced a temporary adjournment.

At this time, Naohiko Saegusa also breathed a sigh of relief. He had just been frightened by Kisaki Eri's momentum, and he had been behaving a little abnormally, which added a lot of suspicion - fortunately, the court is a place where evidence is important, and emotional judgments cannot be used as a basis!
At the same time, Sanzhi was secretly angry in his heart. After thinking about this matter, he must let Lawyer Ikura file a lawsuit against that guy's evil son... Old man, he has been dead for so long, and his son is still making trouble for me!

But just as he was about to return to the witness lounge, he saw Director Shiraishi walking towards him in the corridor...

Sanzhi saw Shiraishi, who was almost touching the ceiling, walking towards him. His figure completely blocked the light behind him, like a wall... He couldn't help but swallow nervously.

"What are you going to do..." Sanzhi was nervous, and even the bailiff next to him was a little alert, but Shiraishi just passed by them.

Of course, they instinctively stepped aside and let Bai Shi walk through the middle.

"Prosecutor Kujo, long time no see." Shiraishi greeted.

At this time, Sanzhi looked back and saw that the person Shiraishi was looking for was not him, but the prosecutor Kujo behind him.

And Mitsurugi was also there, seemingly talking to Kujo...

"Director Shiraishi, what a coincidence... But now is not the time to reminisce, so I won't exchange pleasantries." Kujo's attitude towards Shiraishi was very cold.

"No, it's not a coincidence. I have important matters to discuss and need to find Prosecutor Kujo." Shiraishi shook his head calmly.

"Sorry, can we talk about this after the trial? I need to sort out the relevant information about the case..."

Just as Kujo was about to refuse, Shiraishi interrupted him and said, "What I want to say is also related to the case."

After hearing this, Jiu Tiao had no choice but to look him in the face and said, "I'd like to hear the details."

"Director Bai Shi, I hope what you said is not just your guess." Yu Jian interjected at this time.

Obviously, Kujo and Mitsurugi also knew that what Shiraishi was going to say would most likely contradict the prosecution's position.

"It's not my guess, I'm just stating a fact... Just 20 minutes ago, Itabashi Takuji, one of the people involved in the murder of Ono Miki 18 years ago, turned himself in at the Beihua Police Station and confessed how he murdered Ono Miki.

"The transcript has been completed. After my office organizes it, it will be formally sent to the procuratorate... However, considering that this is closely related to the case currently under trial, I will inform Prosecutor Kujo first..."

Shiraishi's words made Kujo and Mitsurugi stand there in a daze for two seconds.

"Surrender yourself?" Yu Jian was also surprised - he had expected that Bai Shi would say something to "interfere with the prosecution's performance", but he didn't expect... this was too "interfering"!

"Itabashi Takuji... is he the defendant's roommate?" Kujo had obviously reviewed the case in his mind and immediately realized who it was.

"Okay! I won't disturb Prosecutor Kujo any further from now on." Shiraishi said, and didn't say anything more.

Theoretically, this is not entirely idle talk - indeed, the lawsuit can continue after Article 9!
After all, "surrendering" does not necessarily mean it is true...

But in this situation, and since the Mihua Police Department accepted the surrender, the news could definitely not be suppressed.

"Oh, that's right." Bai Shi said, turning around and looking at Sanzhi who was standing there completely stunned.

"Mr. Saegusa, when Mr. Itabashi Takuji turned himself in, he also explained how he escaped from the scene. He did take the Toriya Bridge. Although there was construction work that night, he slipped through the blockade in a hurry... But he was sure that he was not seen by anyone at the time, nor did he run into anyone. After all, except him, no one crossed the bridge that night." Shiraishi said seriously at this time.

When Banqiao turned himself in, Yuan of course also specifically asked about Sanzhi, but...

Banqiao also didn't know why that person said he saw Majima.

"What did you tell us to remember before? Oh, 'No one can arrest you'? Please remember that the only people we cannot arrest are those who have not committed any crime... Regarding the suicide of President Tani Shigeru Akari, we may ask you to come to the police station to cooperate with the investigation. You can think about how to explain it now!"

Bai Shi looked down at him in the backlight and said. Sanzhi was already trembling and unable to speak.

Seeing this, Bai Shi also left.

……

What Hibiki Eri didn't expect was that after a short recess...

The prosecution actually took the initiative to stop the trial!

This "weak" behavior undoubtedly became the focus of reporters' attention.

"Prosecutor Kujo, can you tell me why you requested to suspend the trial?"

"Prosecutor Kujo, did the prosecutors find new evidence?"

"Will the prosecutors directly admit that Majima Hiroyuki is not the real murderer?"

"Are you trying to run away? Prosecutor Kujo!"

"How will the prosecution make up for the 18 years of wrongful convictions and the victims who have died?"

……

Many reporters wanted to interview Prosecutor Kujo after the trial.

Although the bailiffs stopped the crowd of people with cameras, but... at this moment, a reporter suddenly discovered an online report!
"Ah! Observer Weekly! The online version of Observer Weekly just published a news article!"

"What? The real murderer actually surrendered himself?"

"No wonder Prosecutor Kujo requested to suspend the trial at this time..."

"Rice Flower Department, he really turned himself in at the Rice Flower Department!"

That’s right, [Observer Weekly] reported this very quickly…

It's not that Shiraishi or the Mika Agency intends to publicize this, it's just...

……

While Kujo was attracting the attention of the reporters, Shiraishi left the court through the side door, and happened to see... Yayoi Aida, a reporter from [Observation Weekly] and the writer of the "fastest report" of this case.

(Yayoi Aida is based on the female reporter in Slam Dunk, Hikoichi Aida’s sister… Because the criminal investigation theme requires a “reporter”, let’s invite these two siblings to guest star!)

"Ms. Aida, you released the news too quickly, didn't you? You're probably already writing it before the confession has even been recorded... Aren't you afraid that Banqiao will regret it halfway?" When Shiraishi saw her, he couldn't help but greet her.

The short-haired female reporter "Aida Yayoi" said calmly: "I believe in the ability of your police officers."

"It's all thanks to the clues provided by Ms. Aida and those photos... otherwise they probably wouldn't be able to identify Mr. Itabashi Takuji." Shiraishi smiled slightly at this time and did not deny "the ability of our police officers."

This Yayoi Aida was exactly the good friend of Ono Miki, and she was also a member of the campus news club eighteen years ago.

Because she was interested in sports reporting at the time, many photos of the basketball team were taken by her!
At the beginning of the reinvestigation by the Beihua Police Department, she took the initiative to come to the door, hoping to "cooperate". Regarding this case, the police department did not dare to make a decision and directly introduced her to Shiraishi...

After learning of her identity, Shiraishi personally promised her that in this case, any content that the Beihua Agency obtained and could report must be reported to her first!

So Yayoi Aida told the Beika Police Station about the fact that "a troubled person confessed to Ono", which was not accepted by the police officers who handled the case that year. It can be seen that Yayoi Aida was also testing the Beika Police Station. It was only after she was sure that they really wanted to restart the investigation that she told them this "information" that she had always cared about.

Afterwards, Aida also actively participated in the investigation and provided photos of the basketball team that have been preserved to this day, which became indirect evidence... and also an important prop to break through Itabashi Takuji's psychological defenses!

Aida was also very sad about the death of his good friend.

Because the police ignored one of her testimonies, Aida has always had doubts about the case.

Yayoi Aida is now one of the ace reporters of "Observer Weekly". She is much more mature than she was back then and is more convinced that there is something fishy about this case. However, she is just a reporter and could not do anything before.

It wasn't until a team of lawyers began to apply for a retrial that she saw her chance!

After confirming that the Beika Agency was really going to restart the investigation, Aida finally chose the latter between the "legal team" and the "Beika Agency".

Generally speaking, as a "reporter" I wouldn't trust the police so much, but...

Compared to the smooth-talking lawyer Miki, it turns out that the famous Shiraishi Kuro makes her feel more "trustworthy"!
"Thank you, this... should be an explanation to Miki and Majima." Aida thanked him with a sigh.

"No, we should thank you for the clues you provided..." Bai Shi said with regret at this time.

Although the truth was found out, it was "eighteen years late".

Aida was not polite. As he turned and left, he waved his hand and said, "If you really want to thank me, think of me next time you have news."

(End of this chapter)