On 29 January 1996, the Xiaguan District People's Court held an open trial of Li Dongting's murder case.

The trial was broadcast live on provincial and municipal television stations, and the public trial attracted reporters from many local and national media, as well as representatives from all walks of life in Jingnan City. A synagogue with a capacity of 500 people was packed, with a few standing on either side of the synagogue and in the corridors behind it. In the square outside the General Assembly Hall, a large number of people gathered, and people awaited the outcome of the public trial.

Ouyang Ping and Liu Dayu heard people's discussions as they walked into the hall:

"I heard that the relatives of the murderer have hired a very famous barrister from Shanghai."

"What are the Li family doing here?"

"I can't see it, I want to plead not guilty -- or a misdemeanor!"

"I want to save Li Dongting's life."

"Is there any justice in the world? killed someone, and still wants to be a turtle with a shrunken head, does this Li family still have humanity? His Li Dongting's life is life, isn't other people's life life? ”

"Yes! Debts are repaid, and murder is justified. ”

"I heard that this barrister can tell the dead alive and often win lawsuits. Did you read the newspaper? The newspaper said that this Li Dongting had been mentally ill. ”

"I think the conscience of this barrister is eaten by dogs."

"If the Li family really wins the lawsuit, won't the three of them die in vain?"

"Evil does not prevail over good, this is an eternal truth, the Li family is just a clown who jumps off the beam and brings humiliation on himself. Believe it or not, let's wait and see. ”

The above are just a few words that Ouyang Ping and Liu Dayu heard, but they are enough to represent the voices of all the people in Jingnan City.

On the right side of the trial hall (on the public prosecution bench) sat Ma Wenjing and Chen Hongxiang (Mr. Ma was unable to attend the trial due to health reasons), the public prosecution representative and legal adviser and lawyer sent by the Municipal Public Security Bureau sat next to Ma Wenjing and Chen Hongxiang, and Ouyang Ping and Liu Dayu sat in the row of seats behind Ma Wenjing and Chen Hongxiang.

In the dock on the left side of the hall sat Li Dongting's father, the eldest brother-in-law Qian Chongwei (this person holds an important position in a certain organ of the municipal party committee, Gao Chengxiu transferred Li Dongting to Duolun Road Primary School, which may have something to do with this person, and now, the brother-in-law is facing a life-and-death decision, the Li family is in trouble, and Qian Chongwei should also stand up and show his skills. There is also a person sitting next to Qian Chongwei, this person is Zhang Tonglin, the lawyer invited by Qian Chongwei. The person was around fifty years old.

Ouyang Ping is familiar with this person, Zhang Tonglin is a lawyer at Shanghai Tonglin Law Firm, and has a high reputation in China. Everyone knows that the higher the popularity, the higher the cost, and the Li family has the meaning of gambling for their son Li Dongting. Take a gamble, maybe there is some hope, if you can't make Li Dongting innocent and can save Li Dongting's life, it will also be a good result!

Lawyer Zhang Tonglin combed his hair with a small part, the beard on his face was very clean, he was wearing a navy blue suit, the suit was open, and he was wearing a beige shirt with vertical stripes, a tie with small red flowers on a blue background around his neck, and a golden tie clip at the lower end of the tie.

You can see it!

Li Dongting's family wanted to defend Li Dongting's innocence -- or misdemeanor -- and the basis for the not-guilty plea and misdemeanor defense was that Li Dongting was mentally ill and was in the onset of illness when he committed the crime.

Fortunately, Ouyang Ping and the victim's family were prepared, otherwise, they would definitely be in a very passive situation.