Chapter 770: The Meeting Between Both Sides
Whether to impose a lighter or heavier sentence on any case depends on the specific circumstances.
For example, voluntary surrender is generally recognized as grounds for imposing a lighter sentence in most case investigations.
During the criminal investigation process, investigators can issue a sentence reduction recommendation for suspects based on specific conditions, such as meritorious service.
Heavier sentences are primarily established during the investigation phase.
A common factor is the refusal to cooperate during interrogations.
Or particularly cruel methods of murder, such as dismemberment of the body, premeditated murder, etc.
This case in Nanwa Village, from the perspective of Lu Chuan and others, has multiple aspects that justify a heavier sentence from a criminal investigation standpoint.
For instance, premeditated murder.
Additionally, the victim’s family has recently been providing some information from when the child was alive.
The victim had sent a WeChat message to his father the day before his death, on Friday afternoon.
He wanted 15 yuan from his father to eat noodles with soybean paste.
But the next day, the child was gone.
The release of these detailed pieces of information has intensified public sympathy towards the victim’s plight.
Of course, whether these grounds for a heavier sentence in the criminal investigation process can be applied during the trial phase remains uncertain for now.
The law cannot compromise with lawlessness.
In cases where a minor is harmed by another minor, the juvenile protection law must concede to the criminal law.
Because the victimized minor also enjoys the rights of a minor.
A minor who harms another minor cannot base their own rights as a minor on infringing the rights of another minor.
From this perspective, it is a dialectical relationship.
However, Lu Chuan and others do not yet know how the subsequent judgment will be made specifically.
As the frontline in handling various criminal cases, the main duty of the Criminal Investigation Team is to uncover the truth of the case and apprehend the suspect.
The current online focus is actually on the sentencing of the suspect.
The key reason this case has drawn so much attention is its connection to bullying.
If this case isn’t judged well, the potential impact on bullying could lead to detrimental guidance.
A few people spent the morning discussing and roughly sorted out their thoughts.
At three in the afternoon, Deputy Minister Li Xin from the New Media Business Department of Haizhou City Broadcasting Station came to the Criminal Investigation Team with a few staff members.
"Welcome, Minister Li, and all the journalist friends."
Lu Chuan, on behalf of the Criminal Investigation Team, warmly welcomed their arrival.
"Hello, Captain Lu."
"We may trouble you this time, and we appreciate the cooperation from the Criminal Investigation Team."
"Minister Li, you’re too kind. Cooperation with interviews is our duty. Rest assured, we will fully cooperate."
This meeting was not to interview Lu Chuan directly but rather to discuss and coordinate the details of the interview between both sides.
In the meeting room.
"Captain Lu, let me be frank. Before coming, we held an internal meeting to analyze some of the current online public opinion hotspots and roughly drafted three questions."
Li Xin had three major issues to finalize during this visit.
The first was the specific timing of the interview, tentatively set for tomorrow afternoon.
Because after both sides finish discussing the interview questions and answers this afternoon, they still need to report the relevant interview content to higher-ups for approval.
This way, they can reserve the morning for preparation and conduct the interview in the afternoon.
Once the interview videos are edited, they need to be reviewed again before they can be released.
The second concern was determining the interview personnel.
Many people were involved in the investigation process, but not everyone needs to be interviewed.
The final presentation to netizens should include only one to three people, and no more than three.
Therefore, deciding who will be interviewed, what they will discuss, and who holds authoritative identity requires deliberation and consideration.
The third and most important matter was finalizing the interview content.
This includes both the questions asked in the interview and the answers provided.
Lu Chuan had already reviewed the case and understood some current online issues, formulating some corresponding responses.
However, the Criminal Investigation Team only speaks from a professional standpoint and is unsure of the specific online impact.
Li Xin and the New Media Business Department drafted several questions but did not have corresponding answers prepared.
Lu Chuan nodded: "Tomorrow afternoon should work for the timing."
"We have already reported to superiors about the interview personnel, with myself and the forensic doctor being interviewed."
As the Criminal Investigation Team Captain, Lu Chuan was in charge of directing the entire case investigation and had the most comprehensive understanding.
Moreover, his position ensures sufficient authority.
The reason for including Forensic Doctor Wang Changjiang in the interview is because of the autopsy matters, especially regarding the cause of death, needing the most authoritative assessment from the forensic side.
Li Xin had no objection to the police’s choice.
Having the Criminal Investigation Team Captain and the Forensic Doctor was also the best combination discussed from their end.