A Somewhat Unusual Lawyer - Chapter 4

“Wow~~~ Lawyer! How did you know?!”

Nam Da-reum almost spilled his coffee at the shout that burst out as the office door was thrown open.
Through the wide-open door, Lieutenant Jin Pil-seong came running, shaking a few documents with great momentum.

“Yes? What are you talking about?”
“What?! What do you think? I’m talking about that! When you told us to do the under-nail test!”

Da-reum’s eyebrows raised slightly.

“Ah, that… was it resolved well?”
“Of course! We even finished the victim’s autopsy today, and the suspect Baek Hyun-joon’s DNA came right out from the body of the victim, Jeong Jin-soo. And the victim’s DNA was found under Baek Hyun-joon’s nails too!”

Jin Pil-seong waved the document file almost boastfully.

“The autopsy results came out today, and it says strangulation. It was a murder disguised as a fall. Thanks to that, the victim’s parents have also decided not to settle. Just now.”

Nam Da-reum silently nodded his head.
It was anewly surprising to see the name of the crime he had seen with his Left Eye come out exactly as the result.
Jin Pil-seong continued speaking without even taking a breath.

“The compression marks left on his neck were faint, so at first we thought it was an injury caused by bumping into something, but it seems the fall was just a disguise. But the problem is, that Baek Hyun-joon kid’s father is a judge, isn’t he? He’s jumping up and down and making a huge fuss right now. He filed a complaint with the police agency, and three lawyers from a large law firm have shown up.”

Da-reum asked while slowly drinking his coffee.

“What is his father’s name?”
“They say it’s Judge Baek Sang-gyu.”

It was a name that wasn’t unfamiliar. He remembered him coming over to his house at his grandfather’s invitation and even sharing a meal a few times.
He was quite a well-known figure in the Criminal Agreement Division, but it seemed he had failed miserably at raising his child.
Jin Pil-seong hesitated while examining Da-reum’s face.
It seemed he hadn’t come simply to deliver the autopsy results.
Nam Da-reum, who had been observing Jin Pil-seong’s face, spoke first.

“Lieutenant. Do you have something to say?”

When Da-reum asked, Jin Pil-seong answered as if he had been waiting.

“So the thing is. Couldn’t you help us out a bit, Lawyer?”

Nam Da-reum eventually set down the coffee cup he was holding.

“Me? I have to go meet a client regarding the investigation review request soon.”
“Ayy, what time is that?”
“In an hour.”
“An hour is plenty. Please just help our Inspector out this once. Three lawyers from a large law firm showed up and are treating us like mice caught in a trap. We can’t just sit still and take it, can we?”

Jin Pil-seong sighed and scratched his head.

“Which law firm did they come from?”

At Da-reum’s question, Jin Pil-seong quickly replied.

“They said it was Law Firm Leon. That’s one of the top three law firms in our country, right?”

Da-reum’s eyes sank coldly.
It was even the law firm he had applied to and been rejected by.

“What did they say over there?”
“Right now, they’re insisting that the results we got from the National Forensic Service… lack evidentiary capacity.”
“You got the guardian’s consent form. Isn’t there no problem procedurally?”
“Yes. There’s no problem procedurally, but they’re picking faults with the process.”
“What process?”
“When we were moving Baek Hyun-joon, we didn’t pass in front of the waiting room where the guardian was, but took a roundabout way, and they’re picking faults with that right now.”
“Hmm…”
“Using that, they’re claiming ‘inadequate notification’ and continuously saying the evidence is invalid… They’re coming out like this, saying it’s illegally collected evidence.”
“They already know what the results are over there, right?”
“Yes. They know.”
“That’s why they’re acting like that even more.”
“Then what should we do? All three lawyers are sitting in the police agency conference room right now as if they’re occupying it. Inspector Jang told me not to tell you, Lawyer, but I was so frustrated right now. All the evidence is out, but they’re trying to just end it with a settlement.”

Nam Da-reum let out a shallow sigh. Then, he turned his wrist to check the time.
The time left until the appointment with the client for the investigation review request was one hour.
A faint light flickered in Nam Da-reum’s pupils.

“Understood. Let’s go. Where is the conference room?”

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency 2nd Floor, Investigation Conference Room.
Opening the door, he could see Inspector Jang Joo-young and three lawyers in a standoff.
As soon as Jang Joo-young saw Da-reum, he stood up from his seat as if it were unexpected.

“Oh? Lawyer Nam?”

Da-reum gave a light bow to Jang Joo-young and then scanned the opposing lawyers.

“I am Nam Da-reum, advisory counsel for the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.”

They were all familiar faces, but one among them stood out in particular.
Lee Jang-woo. The runner-up of the bar exam. A figure who had remained the eternal second-in-command, overshadowed by Da-reum.
Upon discovering Da-reum, Lee Jang-woo put on a fishy smile and stood up.
It was not a smile of gladness.

“Oh my. Look who it is. Isn’t it Nam Da-reum? I’m seeing a welcome face here of all places.”

He approached Nam Da-reum while putting on airs.

“I was wondering what you were up to anyway. I see you here of all places. But what are you doing at the police agency?”

Nam Da-reum replied briefly.

“What do you think? I’m working.”
“Here?”
“Here.”

Lee Jang-woo let out a subtle laugh.

“Anyway, nice to see you. Seeing your face puts my mind at ease a bit.”

At that sound, Nam Da-reum slightly narrowed his brows.
He didn’t misunderstand the meaning of the sentence Lee Jang-woo had just spat out.
Lee Jang-woo abruptly held out his hand in front of Nam Da-reum.

“I look forward to working with you. Let’s resolve this quickly. Without any noise.”

However, Nam Da-reum ignored his hand and sat down in his seat.
Lee Jang-woo waved his awkward hand back and forth before moving to the opposite side.
He sat down and leisurely crossed his legs.

“Wow, an advisory counsel for the police agency. They say life follows your name, and you’re exactly that. Nam Da-reum’s unusual steps.”

Lee Jang-woo smiled and cracked a joke.
However, Da-reum sat with an indifferent face and flipped through the documents.
Amidst the chilling atmosphere, Da-reum’s voice lowered.

“I understand Leon’s argument is that it was an illegal investigation due to inadequate notification, is that correct?”

Lee Jang-woo smiled as if he had been waiting and answered.

“That’s right. You didn’t notify the guardian about the physical examination of a minor without their presence. There’s nothing more to talk about regarding this. This is completely illegally obtained evidence.”
“I understand the guardian even wrote a consent form. And Inspector Jang Joo-young here asked Student Baek Hyun-joon’s mother again if she wanted to be present, but I understand she said she would not be present.”
“Ah, that time. It was because the madam had a very severe headache. And she said if she had known there would be a DNA collection process like this, she would have naturally been present. She strictly had her nose cut off with her eyes open. Right now.”

Da-reum steadily pressed down his gaze on Lee Jang-woo, who was speaking informally, and continued his words.

“Does Leon also know what the DNA test results turned out to be?”

As the extremely polite tone continued, Lee Jang-woo slyly glared at Nam Da-reum’s face.
Then, uncrossing his legs, he answered sluggishly.

“There is no need for us to know those results right now, and I’m telling you that’s not what’s important.”
“Are you denying the criminal facts?”

Lee Jang-woo’s eyes narrowed. He soon corrected his posture and continued speaking.

“Lawyer Nam. It seems the point has strayed a bit now, but we are discussing the evidence collection process. Since it caused substantial disadvantage to our client’s exercise of their right to defense during the evidence collection process right now, we are saying the evidence cannot be acknowledged.”
“Substantial disadvantage…”
“That’s right. It caused substantial disadvantage to the exercise of their right to defense right now. So it’s correct that this evidence cannot be used. No matter what the result is, if it’s not acknowledged as evidence, isn’t it naturally an acquittal?”

It was a typical fault-picking tactic to reach a pre-indictment settlement.
Nam Da-reum let out a faint sigh.
Then, he calmly spat out his words.

“Lawyer Lee. The National Forensic Service’s autopsy result is strangulation. Which means it was proven to be murder.”

At that short remark, Lee Jang-woo’s eyes twitched.
Nam Da-reum did not miss that opening.

“The gravity of the criminal act is not light. No matter how young they are, is the crime of murder light? It’s difficult to see that something like an ‘itinerary’ caused substantial disadvantage to the suspect’s exercise of their right to defense. It’s not like the police fabricated the evidence.”
“…”
“Even if you claim ‘inadequate notification’ in the process, there is no difference in the basic fact that it was strangulation. If you argue for an acquittal for this reason, wouldn’t it be a case that goes against justice and equity?”
“…”
“Well, I completely understand Lawyer Lee’s position too. Because speaking on behalf of clients is what we do.”

Lee Jang-woo irritably rubbed the back of his neck.
Nam Da-reum looked straight into his eyes and added his words.

“And, among the group, Baek Hyun-joon is the only one who isn’t a juvenile offender. 17 years old. I see he attended school in the US and took two years off, am I wrong?”

The area around Lee Jang-woo’s eyes trembled slightly.

“He’s at an age where he can be criminally punished, so what are you talking about regarding the voluntary accompaniment of a guardian? Leon should proceed as originally planned. Whether you claim the evidence is invalid, or claim innocence. What I’m saying is don’t waste time here.”
“…”
“The court will decide. In my opinion, it seems the court will acknowledge the criminal facts ex officio, but does Lawyer Lee think differently?”

Lee Jang-woo silently glared at Nam Da-reum.

“It seems the conversation is over.”

Nam Da-reum finished his words and looked at Inspector Jang Joo-young.

“Inspector Jang. Forward the case with an opinion for detention.”

The air in the conference room froze in an instant.
Lee Jang-woo hid his flustered expression and called Da-reum out to the hallway.

“Lawyer Nam. Let’s talk for a moment.”

Nam Da-reum noticed right away.
His stance had changed to a submissive one in an instant.
Lee Jang-woo took Nam Da-reum to a secluded spot at the end of the hallway.
Then, with his brows heavily scrunched, he spoke up.

“Hey. Nam Da-reum. You know how this works, why are you being like this. Please, let’s take it easy. Easy. Do you not know who Baek Hyun-joon’s father is? It’s Judge Baek Sang-gyu.”
“…”
“Why isn’t your brain working? You. And you. I heard you applied to Leon. What good is there in making enemies with us? It’s not like you’re going to be an advisory counsel for the police agency forever. Look at the big picture.”

Nam Da-reum swallowed a sneer.
Soon, his voice sank coldly.

“I have no thoughts about Leon.”
“What are you talking about. You applied to all the major law firms and got rejected from all of them, all our peers know about it.”

Lee Jang-woo looked around once before stepping closer.

“This is something only I know, but. The HR team was really regretful about you. You were put on hold in the final round, but if I put in a good word…”

Nam Da-reum cut off Lee Jang-woo’s words.

“That’s enough.”

And then he gave a short laugh.

“Seeing you right now. I think it’s a good thing I didn’t go.”

At that moment, his phone vibrated.
It seemed the client had arrived exactly on time.
Nam Da-reum glanced down at his watch and said.

“Jang-woo.”

Nam Da-reum turned his head and stared fixedly at Lee Jang-woo as he spoke.

“Don’t try to cover it up, think about getting a reduced sentence.”

The corners of Lee Jang-woo’s mouth twisted.

“This guy, he’s a crazy bastard. Who do you think you are trying to teach me.”

Nam Da-reum smiled leisurely. He swept his tie up once and concluded briefly.

“If you committed a crime, you should be punished. Isn’t that right?”