108: Chapter 108 School Bullying

Prosecutor Zhao stood up to state the case:

"Around 4:00 PM on May 7, 2023, Chen Zhihao, a second-year student at Jinhe No. 1 Middle School, fell to his death from the school rooftop. Investigations reveal that the three defendants had long subjected Chen Zhihao to school violence. On the day of the incident, they assaulted and insulted him at the unfinished building on Youyi Road, and threatened to make his private photos public, which directly led to the victim's suicide."

Zhang Xiaobei suddenly scoffed:

"Nonsense! He jumped because he couldn't handle things himself. What does that have to do with us?"

"Defendant, remain silent!"

The judge struck the gavel.

Prosecutor Zhao remained unmoved and continued: "First, please look at several surveillance clips from a month before the incident."

The large screen in the courtroom lit up, showing the school hallway.

Chen Zhihao walked hurriedly with his head down, clutching his books. Zhang Xiaobei suddenly rushed up from behind and kicked him. Chen Zhihao stumbled and fell, his books scattering all over the floor. Zhang Xiaobei and Zhu Qi laughed as they trampled on the books, while Li Dong stood to the side with a subtle expression.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg."

Prosecutor Zhao switched the screen: "According to the testimony of twenty-three students, the three defendants had long intimidated Chen Zhihao and demanded 'protection money,' resorting to violent beatings if he didn't pay. Furthermore, many other students pointed out that they too had been bullied. Chen Zhihao's family was in difficult circumstances; his father passed away early, and his mother works at the Rainbow Garment Factory. He often couldn't produce the money, and couldn't even afford the high cost of the school uniform."

Upon hearing "Rainbow Garment Factory," Xiao Bei noticed Principal Liu Jianjun in the gallery stiffen.

Next, surveillance clips from the rooftop on the day of the incident were shown. Although the footage was blurry, one could clearly see Zhang Xiaobei pushing Chen Zhihao. Zhu Qi was filming on the side, and Li Dong seemed to be trying to dissuade them but was pushed away by Zhang Xiaobei.

Chen Zhihao was forced to the edge of the rooftop and suddenly climbed over the railing and jumped.

"Defendant Zhang Xiaobei, do you have anything to say about this evidence?" the judge asked.

Zhang Xiaobei shrugged: "It was just a joke. Who knew he was such a snowflake? Besides, who knew he would dare to jump? I didn't tell him to jump. Would you dare to jump? His suicide has nothing to do with me!"

The courtroom was in an uproar.

Xiao Bei clenched his fists, and Su Yun gently pressed down on his arm.

"Order!"

The judge struck the gavel again: "Defendant, watch your language!"

Prosecutor Zhao continued to present evidence: "Very well, this is the chat history recovered from Zhang Xiaobei's phone. One hour before the incident, he sent a message to Chen Zhihao: 'If you don't bring five hundred yuan today, I will make the video and photos of you drinking our urine public!'"

"It was a joke!"

Zhang Xiaobei curled his lip indifferently, "I don't have any video."

"Your Honor."

Li Dong, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, his voice trembling: "I... I have something to say."

The judge nodded to signal him to proceed.

Tears were already streaming down Li Dong's face: "It's... it's my fault, Chen..."

"Li Dong, cut the crap!"

Zhang Xiaobei was furious, glaring at Li Dong so hard he didn't dare to continue.

"Enough!"

The judge interrupted sternly: "Bailiff, restrain the defendant!"

Two bailiffs held down the restless Zhang Xiaobei. Prosecutor Zhao seized the opportunity: "Your Honor, we have key evidence. This is the deletion record recovered from the school server, proving that Principal Liu Jianjun personally ordered the deletion of the relevant surveillance footage after the incident and threatened students who knew about it not to spread the word."

Everyone's gaze turned to Principal Liu Jianjun in the gallery. His face livid, he stood up:

"This is slander! I had no knowledge of this!"

"Quiet!"

The judge looked around the courtroom sternly: "Given the gravity of the case, this court decides to adjourn for deliberation. The defendants are to be remanded in custody."

During the adjournment, Xiao Bei and Bureau Chief Lin Liqiang discussed urgently in the hallway.

"Li Dong's testimony is critical," Xiao Bei said in a low voice, "Currently, it seems this case doesn't have much to do with the Rainbow Garment Factory, and Factory Director Li Lei seems to be living quite frugally."

The bell signaling the end of the adjournment echoed through the Jinhe County People's Court. Xiao Bei and Su Yun hurried back into the courtroom.

In the gallery, Chen Zhihao's mother, Wang Sufen, was already crying to the point of collapse, but her eyes were incredibly firm. She must see the villains who bullied her son brought to justice with her own eyes!

On the opposite side in the defendant's family seating area, Zhang Jinbao was gritting his teeth and sending messages on his phone, while Factory Director Li Lei of the Rainbow Garment Factory lowered his head, rubbing his hands, occasionally wiping sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

"All rise!"

The Court clerk announced loudly.

The judge stepped back into the courtroom, his expression more serious than before the adjournment.

He looked around, his gaze lingering on Zhang Xiaobei for a moment, then struck the gavel:

"Court is back in session. Prosecutor, please present your evidence."

Prosecutor Zhao stood up, straightened his dark blue uniform, and his voice was steady and powerful:

"Your Honor, next I will show three deleted videos recovered from the defendant Zhang Xiaobei's phone. These videos will clearly present the bullying behavior the defendants inflicted on the victim, Chen Zhihao."

The large screen in the courtroom lit up, and the first video began to play.

On screen, Chen Zhihao was cornered in the restroom, his school uniform soaked through with water.

Zhang Xiaobei stood at the very front, shaking a mineral water bottle in his hand, a malicious smile on his face:

"Poor wretch, if you don't pay the protection money today, I'll let you drink some 'special drink'!"

Zhu Qi stood to the side holding a phone to record, letting out cackling laughter. Li Dong stood a bit further away, his expression hesitant.

"Drink it!"

Zhang Xiaobei suddenly grabbed Chen Zhihao by the hair, forcing him to look up, and shoved the bottle opening into his mouth: "This was specially prepared for you by us, don't waste it!"

Chen Zhihao struggled, liquid spilling from the corners of his mouth and running down his neck into his collar. One could clearly hear the sounds of him choking and dry heaving in the video.

A heart-rending cry came from the gallery; Wang Sufen was in unbearable pain seeing the video of her son being humiliated with her own eyes.

There was a commotion in the courtroom; the judge immediately struck the gavel to demand order.

Zhang Xiaobei, however, scoffed:

"What's the big deal? It was just a joke between boys. He wanted to drink it himself; I didn't force him."

The judge struck the gavel heavily again: "Defendant Zhang Xiaobei, watch your language! One more inappropriate remark, and this court will consider it contempt of court!"

Prosecutor Zhao remained calm and continued to play the second video. This time it was at the school's back playground. Chen Zhihao was surrounded by the three of them, and Zhang Xiaobei was using a lighter to burn the hem of his school uniform.

"The quality of your Rainbow Garment Factory uniforms isn't great, they catch fire at the slightest touch."

Zhang Xiaobei laughed at the camera, "Do you want me to help you make a complaint to the factory? Oh, right, isn't your mom a seamstress at the factory?"

Li Dong said in a low voice at the edge of the frame: "Don't go too far..."

As a result, he was glared at by Zhang Xiaobei and didn't dare to speak again.

The third video was in the unfinished building. Chen Zhihao was forced to take off his top, his body covered in bruises. Zhang Xiaobei used a marker to draw a large character for "Poor" on his chest, while Zhu Qi took photos on the side...