My Lawyer, Mr. Jo (동네변호사 조들호)

Kang Il Goo, tell the truth. Did you really do it?

It's the truth. I did it all.

You're saying you killed a person and committed arson to hide it.

Finish this investigation quickly. Send me to prison already!

Write it down. Write down

what you're hiding, what you're getting for lying and which bastard actually did it.

Write it down quickly!

Chairman Jeong's son caused the incident and that Kang Il Goo kid from an orphanage took all the blame for it, is it correct?

Don't bother Chairman Jeong!

Why are you driving the situation to this point? What are you doing this for?

I'm a prosecutor of South Korea. This is what I do, is something wrong?

That cheap ambition of yours, to make a name for yourself, is going to ruin everything.

Why are you digging your own grave?

Whose grave it will be, you will find out if you wait and see.

Is this what you were hoping for? It serves you right.

It's the end for you.

From now on Seoul Central District Court, Case number 2016, Gohap 2915.

We will start the trial regarding the arson murder charge filed against the defendant.

Prosecution, state your charge.

Wait a moment!

~ Episode 2 ~ You can not be here. Send him out.

Your Honor. I am sorry for being late.

I am the counsel for the defendant, Jo Deul Ho.

Jo Deul Ho?

Did you perhaps retain additional counsel?

They said the more attorneys I have, the better off I am.

You should have told me in advance!

Has the appearance of another counsel been filed?

Yes, it was received in the morning.

Prosecutor, state your charge.

Yes.

On March 25, 2013, the defendant Byun Ji Shik...

Why won't you listen to me?!

With Noh Gwang Soo, with whom he was acquainted from the homeless shelter,

while drinking together at the Bukgajwa-dong construction site,

after having a verbal argument, he murdered Noh Gwang Soo

and setting fire to the body, he destroyed it.

For this we are formally charging the defendant Byun Ji Shik, with one count of arson and murder.

Defendant, do you acknowledge the charge?

- We do not acknowledge it. - We do not acknowledge it.

Make me lose my appetite. Why did you become a lawyer?

If you look at his sworn statement, the defendant at the time got drunk and fell asleep on the second floor of that building.

When he woke up due to the burning smell, the first floor was on fire

and the distraught defendant jumped out of the second floor window.

And from that, he said, he suffered burns on his back.

Witness, as an investigator, didn't you find anything odd from the contents of this affidavit?

Yes, I have. - What is that?

If you look at that picture of the scene of the arson,

the point of origin, namely where the initial flames sprouted from,

is the first floor, as the defendant has stated.

Soon, the fire had spread to the second floor.

However, as you can see from the photos, unlike the first floor where the ceiling and walls were completely destroyed,

the second floor, with the exception of some blackening,

- has maintained considerable parts of its original appearance. - Yes.

So if the accused really was on the second floor, he wouldn't have gotten such burn scars.

Those burns are marks caused by some scalding hot object falling on his back.

That is all.

Defense, cross-examine please.

Of course...

- How are you going to defend him with no witness or proof?- I don't know.

- You don't know. Just insist for now.- I will insist and...

Aigoo, look at your tense shoulders. Relax them.

Relax your eyes. Do you have a hand tremor or something?

Why do you shake so much? Don't shake your hand.

Witness. Let's just say the accused was

sleeping on the second floor. Let's say that's how it was.

But flames shot up from the first floor. What would you do?

Because you were sleeping on the second floor while a fire broke out on the first floor,

would you dive out the window right away?

- Well... If it were me—- If it were me, I wouldn't be able to.

Why? Because it's scary.

I would be terrified. Would I just dive out the second floor window because there is a fire on the first floor?

Am I a diving champion? Even diving champs wouldn't be able to do that.

You could die that way. Wouldn't you first go downstairs

to see how big the fire is?

Even once downstairs, wouldn't you go this way and that, left and right, and run helter-skelter?

You can't think clearly or see very well. You're covered in cold sweat

and your heart is beating really fast.

Only after you check out the fire yourself,

wouldn't you go upstairs again?

And on the way back up the stairs,

parts of the ceiling or the wall may fall to cause such injuries...

Judge! He is imposing his speculations on the witness.

- Defense Counsel.- All I am describing is basic human nature and feelings.

You claim a person is unable to receive these injuries from the second floor so I am saying we should find out for certain.

Let's say 10 people are trapped on the second floor.

But there is a fire on the first floor. How many of them would be willing to jump out the window?

- If it wasn't urgent, they wouldn't jump out right away.- Right?

They would wait for rescue or find a safer method...

They would try another method.

So you're saying the defendant could have

incurred those injuries while going down and back upstairs, right?

That is possible.- He says it's possible.

If so, there are no problems with the contents of his affidavit. Correct?

Yes.

Thank you, that's all.

You, 5 Orders of Ribs, right?

Cheapskate. - Cheap...

I'm going to do the next cross-examination.

Relax your eyes and loosen up your shoulders.

Do you have hand tremors?

Byun Ji Shik was Noh Gwang Soo's prey.

- Prey?- Yes. Whenever Byun got his hands on money,

Noh would say he would treat everyone and take it as if it was his.

He was older and lived this homeless life longer, but Mr. Noh had him under his thumb.

Aiyoo, why are you being like this again?

He treated Mr. Byun like his slave.

Did the defendant perhaps do something wrong towards Mr. Noh Gwang Soo?

He just saw him as an easy mark. Mr. Byun is a gentle man.

He didn't do anything wrong but Noh harassed him just because...

He must have harbored a deep grudge against him.

The prosecutor is asking leading questions.

I am trying to prove their relationship was bad. It could have been the criminal motive.

Continue.

Please speak.

Once he got really drunk and I heard him say

That bastard... I'm going to kill him someday!

That he wanted to kill him, that he would kill him no matter what.

At that time, I thought it was his drunken bravado.

Judge, the defendant has also been similarly wronged five years ago.

He was made to retire early and with the retirement money he received,

he bought a restaurant and ran it. It went pretty well, right?

Yes...

Then one day, the building owner asked the restaurant to move out.

How many times do I have to tell you? Get out!

It was a business into which he put all his money and all of his family pitched in efforts

but lost it all in one moment. At that time, what do you think the defendant did?

He set the restaurant on fire.

I'm feeling a bit of deja vu.

Am I alone?

Judge...

Can I please request a break?

For what reason?

I need... I need to use the restroom.

Please come up here.

Even walking is difficult...

Is this how you greet me after years of disappearance?

This is a serious emergency...

I will never allow you to slight my courtroom!

I would also like to uphold the dignity of the court as much as possible but... this...

This... I really have to go.

What... What are you doing right now?

Co-counsel have to accompany each other to the restroom, don't you know?

Excuse me!

A tactical time-out to interrupt the flow.

What is your plan?

You've done everything your way, why are you asking for my strategy now?

Why don't you just see with your own eyes what I will do in court?

Alright then.

Are you going to the restroom? Wait for me when you're done so we can go back together.

It's been a long time.

I see you're as brazen-faced as always.

Lawyer Jo, if you're trying to fix your broken life by winning this case,

please wake up from your dreams.

It's been a long time since we've met but your greeting is a bit dry.

I know it well that the guy isn't the culprit.

You weren't listening earlier?

He has a record of doing the same thing five years ago.

If I were a prosecutor, I would think the same but

the world looks different, now that I see things through the eyes of a lawyer.

There's no law that says if you committed arson five years ago, you'll do it again.

Wouldn't it be wise to withdraw the formal charges?

If you don't want to, then go till the end.

I think becoming a lawyer was my calling.

Witness. Earlier, you've clearly stated that

- the defendant was drunk when he said he wanted to kill him?- Yes.

But normally, you also stated, the defendant was as meek as a sheep.

What is she doing? Is she trying to go with the diminished capacity defense?

Yes. He was meek, very.

So much that you wondered if he was a man or Buddha's rib.

I see. Just to be clear, the defendant was a meek sheep-like person normally

but only changed after drinking...

What are you doing right now?

Counsel Jo Deul Ho, sit down.

So, the defendant, Byun Ji Shik, was completely drunk on that night, too, no, I mean...

One moment please.

If you look at this information, you will be able to see how much the defendant relies on alcohol on a daily basis...

The defendant is innocent! He did not commit the crime with diminished capacity.

It is diminished capacity for sure! He is unable even to recall that day's events!

If you can't remember, does that make you the perpetrator?

If you drink, black out and somebody accuses you of stealing a wallet,

then do you readily admit that you stole the wallet?

You two, won't you stop right now? As co-counsel you appeared without even unifying your stance?

You both lack the basics!

The prosecutors have strong proof but we have nothing!

We have to go with diminished capacity no matter what! That's the only way we may win.

Mr. Byeon Ji Shik, has she explained to you what diminished capacity is?

That you drank alcohol and lost it and started a fire.

And that fire killed a person but you weren't in your right mind.

So please go easy on me. This is what a diminished capacity defense means! Did she explain it to you?

- Sir, it's not like that, but—- A client-scamming lawyer, she is...

What do you mean a scam?! Watch your words.

Did you start the fire?- No.

Right!

- Did you kill a person?- No, I've never killed anyone.

Right?!

He's innocent then.

Don't trust this woman.

It isn't what he's saying... I'll be back later.

I'll see you then.