01x10 - Justice

[bunniefuu]

I've dreamed of seeing you
like this for a long time.

Your intense tenacity is truly impressive.

Perseverance and diligence
are essential qualities for prosecutors.

What a waste.

However,

when you take dangerous risks,
this outcome is inevitable.

You see,

I was born in a remote village in Akita.

After a brief summer,
snow quickly covers everything.

And it's dark for more than half the year.

As a child, I longed for light.

I studied hard and came to Tokyo.

But what awaited me
after entering the legal field

was more competition.

I was looked down upon and ridiculed
just because I was from the countryside

and a third-rate university.

So I achieved more than anyone else,

adhered to the organization's ethics,
and succeeded through harsh competition.

What are you getting at?

You see,

I hate authority.

I hate unreasonable things.

And I hate evil.

For all that,
you're quite lenient with your own crimes.

When I look at you, I'm sharply reminded...

that nothing corrupts this world more

than an opportunistic
and twisted sense of justice.

Justice, huh?

From where I stand,

you're the one who's twisted.

You let a m*rder*r back into the world.

Will the public call
someone like that just?

I think I've mentioned this to you once.

Imagine this.

A man is holding a knife
to your precious family.

Your family could be k*lled at any moment.

And you have a knife in your hand.

Now, what will you do?

I'll k*ll the man.

You've grown.

You couldn't answer me back then.

Anyone would commit m*rder
to protect their precious family.

And when you have protected your family,

people will call that justice.

You understand, don't you?

I also have a family to protect.

So if your family is safe,

you can sacrifice someone else's?

When Momotaro attacked Ogre Island,

do you think he considered
that the ogres also had children?

Whether an action becomes justice or evil

depends on your perspective.

The law should be wielded cleverly

to shape this perspective.

That's why...

you've been using the law
as well, haven't you?

I do believe you were doing
quite well for a while.

It's truly unfortunate.

Mr. Akizumi's arrest
was picked up by the media,

and many of our clients left us.

Mr. Hiyama was arrested
simultaneously with Mr. Akizumi

for allegedly inducing him
to suppress evidence.

We've been unable
to get in touch with Ms. Shiraki.

We still haven't been able to ask her

why she took the jacket
and handed it over to the prosecution.

Akizumi continues to remain silent.

However, in addition to the evidence
of the bloodstained jacket,

we also have Shiraki's testimony.
Hiyama has begun to testify as well.

Akizumi will undoubtedly be found guilty.

It's my first trial in a while.
How exciting.

Attorney Akizumi's
facade of justice has been stripped away,

and the Chief Prosecutor himself
is meting out punishment.

This is drawing considerable attention.

His offense isn't limited
to suppression of evidence, after all.

He also owes the public

a proper explanation
for causing disturbance.

Are you referring
to the case from 12 years ago?

He tarnished the prosecution's honor
based on conjecture and suspicion.

He must make proper amends.

Getting him released on bail
isn't possible, is it?

It appears so.

They suspect
he may suppress more evidence,

but what could he possibly hide now?

They've already searched this place
and taken everything.

True.

What did Mr. Akizumi say?

He asked us to find a clue
that could lead to Mr. Shimizu's retrial.

That's all.

Then let's find one as soon as possible.

Right.

I'm back.

How did it go?

I met Specialist Hiratsuka's
former assistant.

Before he passed away from cancer,
he told me this.

"I've made
an unforgivable mistake as a scientist."

"Don't follow my path."

Until I received your call,

I never thought
he might have manipulated the report.

But it's possible.

You think Mr. Hiratsuka may have left
something behind

out of goodwill after regretting
his tampering of the report.

Mr. Kaneda, his former assistant,
is no longer working in the crime lab.

I'm now attempting to contact
the remaining staff there.

I'm counting on you.

Right.

It's already been eight years
since Mr. Hiratsuka left the crime lab.

Even if something still remains,
where would it be?

Perhaps in the crime lab's archives?

What are you talking about?

Ms. Shiraki...

I went to collect my belongings.

Thanks for everything up until now.

Why betray Mr. Akizumi?

I simply...

woke up to the truth.

I mean, it's wrong...

to hide evidence of m*rder.

We could have been arrested too
if we weren't careful.

No offense,

but I don't think I was wrong.

Attorney Akizumi, known for exposing
corruption in the justice system,

is now suspected of suppressing evidence.

This trial is garnering
significant attention,

and a long line of people is waiting
to obtain attendance tickets.

How lonely.

The accused is an attorney affiliated
with the Tokyo Central Bar Association.

He served as the defense attorney
in Keita Hiyama's m*rder case.

However, after February 6th, 2024,

he took the jacket,
which is crucial evidence in this case...

After the accused defended him,

Mr. Hiyama was found innocent.

What are your thoughts on this?

Mr. Hiyama isn't innocent.

He's a m*rder*r.

What do you mean?

Could you please clarify?

His jacket was found in the office.

Can you confirm if the jacket is
the one shown in the photos?

Yes.

It's what Mr. Hiyama was wearing
when he k*lled Mr. Hanegi.

It wasn't found during the first instance.

And you're saying it was found
in the Akizumi Law Office?

Yes.

Covering up the crime
and securing an acquittal for a m*rder*r...

I considered it an unforgivable act.

Thank you.

When we tested the sebum
found on the collar,

it matched Mr. Hiyama's DNA.

Given this, we believe

it's clear that Mr. Hiyama was wearing
the jacket when committing the crime.

On January 30th, around 9:45 p.m.,

did you chase Mr. Hanegi
as he was heading home,

hit him on the head with a hammer
from behind, and k*ll him?

Yes.

I k*lled him.

So, you admit to your crime?

Yes.

In the second instance of my case,
I intend to reveal everything

and atone for my crime.

I'm very sorry.

After murdering Mr. Hanegi,
what did you do with the jacket?

After the trial,

I got rid of it at a disposal facility.

So you attempted to conceal the evidence.

Did someone instruct you to do this?

Mr. Hiyama, perjury is a crime.

Please answer truthfully.

It was Mr. Akizumi.

So you were instructed by the accused?

Yes.

-Why did the...
-Why did the accused...

instruct you to hide your crime,
Mr. Hiyama?

He said it was to clear up
a false accusation in a case 12 years ago.

Do you mean the Itoi family murders case?

Yes.

The suspicion that condemned criminal
Yusaku Shimizu was falsely accused

was also reported in the Tokyo Chuo
Newspaper issued on May 27th.

This became a topic
of public discussion as well.

What connection...

does this case have
with your concealing your m*rder?

Mr. Shimizu was captured on a video
I filmed back then.

Mr. Akizumi wanted me to help him find it.

In return,

he'd get an acquittal for me.

And did you find the video
that could prove the false accusation?

No.

Can you provide evidence
that this video ever existed?

No.

In other words...

there is no evidence
that Mr. Shimizu was falsely accused.

Is that right?

Yes.

Do you have anything to say

regarding the facts of the indictment
that the prosecutor just read?

Everything...

is true.

Knowing that Mr. Hiyama
m*rder*d Mr. Hanegi,

I instructed him to dispose of the jacket
that would serve as evidence.

Is your reason
as Mr. Hiyama testified earlier?

Yes.

I wanted to clear the false accusation
against Mr. Yusaku Shimizu,

who was sentenced to death
for the Itoi family murders.

Do you...

have anything else
you wish to say in court?

I promise...

to clear Mr. Shimizu's false accusation.

That is all.

This article was published
in the Tokyo Chuo Newspaper on May 27th.

It sparked suspicions

about Mr. Shimizu's false accusation
and drew a public response.

The reporter is Ms. Maki Sawahara.

She's your former client, isn't she?

Yes.

Did you direct Ms. Sawahara
regarding the contents of this article?

If you're asking
if I provided information,

then yes.

But as I recall, Mr. Hiyama just stated
that there was no evidence.

This means...

you stirred up the media
with unreliable information,

causing a public disturbance.

No.

It's true I don't have evidence,

but I had grounds to believe
in the false accusation.

I see.

Could you please elaborate
on what these grounds were?

There's a file left
by a former prosecutor named Momose.

According to the file,

Detective Fukazawa declared that footage
supporting Mr. Shimizu's alibi was found

but was suppressed.

By you,

Chief Prosecutor Datehara.

To clarify his statement,

I present evidence number 20
as requested by the prosecution.

Proceed.

By the file,

are you referring to this file labeled
"Itoi family murders case" on its cover?

Yes.

I have reviewed this file too.

According to its contents,
it indeed accuses me

of covering up the video footage.

However, I must admit that
the underlying theory it relies upon

honestly didn't seem logical to me.

What do you mean?

Speculation not grounded in facts

and stories no more credible
than baseless rumors were listed.

I also spoke with Detective Fukazawa,
whom you mentioned just now.

He informed me that he had no knowledge
of Prosecutor Momose

or the existence
of the footage in question.

Wait a minute!

-This is no place for your explanations...
-Your Honor!

I'm not offering explanations.

This is an issue we must address
to clarify the accused's motive.

I ask you to hear out
this exchange carefully.

Very well.

Proceed.

When Ms. Momose compiled this file,

she was already
suffering from a serious illness.

Can you confirm this?

Yes.

How tragic.

At just 39 years old,

she must have experienced
profound despair.

When on death's doorstep,

people often seek
to reaffirm their purpose in life.

In Ms. Momose's case,

she felt it was her mission
to save someone.

Wouldn't you agree?

No, I wouldn't!

Of course,
you wouldn't want to believe that.

Trusting the contents of this file,

you left the prosecution
and became an attorney.

Driven by a sense of mission
to save a life in place of Ms. Momose.

Have you ever wanted to become a hero?

No. I don't feel that way at all.

Is that so?

But I know you from your time
in the prosecution.

You were exceptionally competent,
with a strong sense of justice.

Great things were expected of you.

You were truly a prosecutor of justice.

However,

an extreme sense of justice

can sometimes lead one astray.

Those who aspire to be heroes
require a fitting stage, after all.

Surely you haven't forgotten?

In the months
before you left the prosecution,

you repeatedly engaged in performances
of baseless speculation and falsehoods

that confused your colleagues.

Objection!

And even recently,

you secured an acquittal for a m*rder*r
and covered up evidence.

You disturbed the public
with unsubstantiated information,

believing you're seeking justice!

Am I wrong?!

Your Honor, the prosecutor has been making
baseless speculative comments.

Please maintain proper control
of the court proceedings.

True.

Prosecutor, please ask questions
that are grounded in some evidence.

My apologies.

However, the accused
was my former subordinate.

Allow me to add that my earlier comment
wasn't speculation,

but rather a statement
based on my observations.

Accused...

do you have any final remarks?

You sure are desperate.

Desperate?

Of course, I am.

It is the prosecution's inherent duty
to seek the truth

when investigating someone
suspected of corruption.

Especially if that person
was one of our own.

They bring shame upon us, after all!

From my perspective,
you haven't been pursuing the truth.

Instead, you seem to be desperately
trying to deflect suspicion from yourself.

I wouldn't do such a thing.

Then I'm relieved.

Doing so would only be a waste of time.

And what do you mean by that?

Soon...

I intend to request a retrial
for Mr. Shimizu.

Because we have discovered new evidence.

New evidence?

Yes.

This evidence will sufficiently support
Mr. Shimizu's innocence.

In that case, could you present
this new evidence or whatever it is?

I second this, Your Honor.

This is a pivotal issue in this case.

If it is revealed that Shimizu
was not falsely accused,

the accused's actions
would be devoid of justice.

It'd be a highly malicious affront
to the judicial system.

If the accused seeks
to justify his actions,

I believe it is imperative for him
to disclose this new evidence.

I share the same view.

If Your Honor grants permission,

my defense will present this evidence
in the next trial.

Allow me to get things straight.

Defense counsel,

how do you respond to this?

If the accused wishes it,
we have no objection.

Very well.

It does seem that the Itoi family murders
from 12 years ago

will be pivotal in this case.

Attorneys, please present the facts
concerning this new evidence

in the upcoming trial.

New evidence?

Why did Mr. Akizumi
mention that all of a sudden?

I also have something
I want to ask him about.

Maybe...

the evidence is already...

Mr. Aoyama.

There's something I need
to discuss with both of you.

I thought you might have
some insight into this.

About the new evidence Akizumi mentioned.

If such a thing...

actually exists, that is.

I could tell you.

But I'm not sure if there would be
any benefit to me if I did.

I'll arrange with
the director of Revels Law Office

to add a special bonus
to the amount in the contract.

Botulinum toxin.

Akizumi believes you altered
the poison test report.

The defense has requested
an examination of evidence.

It's a drug and poison test report
from a crime lab.

It's not worth reviewing.

It's a forged document.

Since no tampering occurred,

there couldn't possibly be any evidence.

He made a spectacle in court
claiming they had new evidence.

And now, feeling pressured,
they must have fabricated it.

How audacious.

I'll tell them we reject the request.

No.

I approve.

But...

They went out of their way to bait us.

We should take the bait.

THE SECOND PUBLIC TRIAL

In the previous trial, you stated
that you had new evidence

to prove the false accusation
of Shimizu 12 years ago.

Can you confirm this statement?

I can.

This new evidence

has been accepted
as evidence in this trial.

Please explain in detail once more
in your own words.

As you are aware,
the Itoi family murders involved

poisoning with a substance
mixed into their food and drink.

The investigation report at the time

states that thallium was discovered
on the table at the crime scene.

The same toxin was found in the bodies.

This led to the conclusion

that their deaths
resulted from thallium sulfate poisoning.

Your Honor, to clarify his statement,

I'll present evidence number 10
as requested by the defense counsel.

Proceed.

This is a report
from a drug and poison test

conducted in a crime lab.

Is this document the new evidence
that will lead to Mr. Shimizu's retrial,

as you mentioned?

Yes, that's right.

This document was discovered
in the archives of a crime lab.

It was left by Mr. Hiratsuka who conducted
the poison test for the case.

According to this document,

the poison test was conducted
on March 12th, 2012.

The result indicated the presence

of botulinum toxin.

The levels mentioned
significantly exceeded the lethal dose.

However, the investigation document
made no reference to botulinum toxin.

It only mentioned that thallium was found.

The test result was not reflected.

Why did you believe this happened?

Because the test report was altered.

Isn't that right,
Chief Prosecutor Datehara?

Could you explain
the basis for your belief?

Certainly.

I have two reasons.

First, Chief Prosecutor Datehara
is suspected

of concealing footage that
could have proven Mr. Shimizu's alibi.

Second,

the prosecution at the time
was under pressure.

Under pressure?

Could you please elaborate on that?

Yes.

Mr. Yusaku Shimizu continued
to deny the murders even after his arrest.

Furthermore, there wasn't
a single piece of evidence

linking him to the murders.

Despite this, Mr. Shimizu's arrest was
extended on various fabricated grounds,

and he was rearrested repeatedly,
totaling 65 days in detention.

Still, Mr. Shimizu continued
to deny the murders.

As the final detention expiration date
approached,

the prosecution had run out
of justifications to hold him.

Without any evidence or a confession,

they would have to release him.

Meanwhile, the crime lab

presented them
with a drug and poison test report,

indicating that botulinum toxin
was found in the bodies.

This result was extremely inconvenient
for the prosecution.

Botulinum toxin cannot be obtained
unless you're a scientist.

It was difficult to convincingly argue

how Mr. Shimizu
could have come into possession of it.

In contrast,
thallium sulfate was more convenient.

The warehouse of the company
where Mr. Shimizu worked

had thallium sulfate
readily available as a rodenticide.

Supervision was sloppy back then,

and any employee
could easily have taken it out.

In other words,

if they claimed the poison
was thallium sulfate,

it would have greatly supported
the indictment of Mr. Shimizu, correct?

That's right.

Based on this test report,

they finally rearrested
Mr. Shimizu for the murders.

I see.

Was it after this that you were
called into the investigation?

Yes.

Speaking from my experience at the time,

for prosecutors, including myself,

this test report was compelling evidence
in indicting him.

That is all.

Well, I must say,
that was a truly riveting story.

If someone completely uninformed
heard this,

they might believe
that I manipulated the test report.

However...

that is not true.

It's true that the poison test
took some time,

causing confusion in the investigation.

Especially for you,
who joined the investigation halfway.

However,

I can explain everything.

Do you want to hear it?

Yes. I do.

When the incident was first uncovered,
the simple test conducted on-site

did indeed detect botulinum toxin.

This information was shared
with the on-site police officers.

However, after some time,

we received a report that thallium
was also found at the scene.

Were you aware of that?

No.

Do you mean both botulinum toxin
and thallium were found?

Precisely.

Testing for thallium requires ICP-MS,
an extremely specialized instrument,

and it cannot detect
other poisons together.

That's why a separate test
had to be conducted.

The bodies were retrieved
from the forensic medicine classroom

and meticulously examined
in the crime lab.

Here are the official records
of the drug and poison test

conducted in the crime lab at the time.

Alongside it is the test report submitted
by the defense as evidence number 10.

This document shows the results

of the drug and poison tests
in the Itoi family murders case.

As you can see,

tests for both botulinum toxin
and thallium were conducted.

This shows that
neither I nor Mr. Hiratsuka have ever

distorted the test report!

The amount of botulinum toxin
found in the bodies' blood

was less than one-hundredth
of the lethal dose.

This is insufficient to cause death.

Therefore, botulinum toxin was not
directly related to their cause of death.

This toxin can naturally occur in foods
and must have been present

in very small amounts
in their food and drink.

After learning this substance
was unrelated to the incident,

it was determined that listing both toxins
could lead to misunderstandings.

That is why...

it wasn't included
in the investigation document.

That's all there is to it.

This sequence of events

must have been new information to you.

I see.

Is that the story you've constructed?

But it's puzzling.

Both the evidence presented
by the defense counsel and the prosecution

are from tests conducted in a crime lab

on the exactly same bodies.

How could the results be so divergent?

It suggests that one of them
must have been forged.

And the answer

is as clear as daylight.

This document that you presented...

it's forged, isn't it?

Objection!

Refrain from asking questions
based on groundless assumptions.

I do have grounds.

The evidence I presented

is an official document
obtained directly from the crime lab.

It could not have been tampered with.

Wouldn't you agree that such a document
holds far more credibility

than one found in vague circumstances,
such as being discovered in the archives?

I assure you
that this document could not exist

unless it was forged!

Could not exist?

Yes. Am I wrong?

Then why were you searching
so desperately for this document

that supposedly couldn't exist?

What are you talking about?

You say I was searching for it?

Your Honor,

the Chief Prosecutor recently visited
the crime lab's archives.

This occurred on June 13th,
between 7 to 8 p.m.

This should sound familiar to you.

This is baseless.
What evidence do you have?

I have footage.

Do you mean security camera footage?

In that case, there's none in that room.

I shouldn't be surprised you know that.

But you're mistaken.

I have footage from another camera
placed inside the archives.

Defense counsel, do you plan
to present this camera footage?

Yes.

Here is the request
for evidence examination.

Very well.

Prosecutor, please review the footage
and state your position.

Right.

I will now play the footage.

First, Your Honor, may I speak?

You have my permission to speak.

What is it?

Chief Prosecutor Datehara's
interpretation of this footage is crucial.

I understand this is unconventional,
but I request permission

to seek clarification from him
from my position as the accused.

Regarding this request,

could you permit the accused himself
to conduct the questioning,

given his knowledge
of the situation at the time?

We will bear responsibility for this.

I understand your reasons, but...

Prosecutor, what is your stance?

If you consent, Your Honor,

we agree.

Well then,

I will permit you
to seek clarification in this trial.

Thank you very much.

First,

please watch this footage.

This is you, isn't it,
Chief Prosecutor Datehara?

Yes.

Wait, I remembered just now.

As I recall, I was searching for files
on an old unsolved case to review them.

I wanted to solve as many cases
as I could during my time as a prosecutor.

That's why I was there.

It was quite laborious
searching for those old files.

Is that really so?

The file you found...

something is written on it.

I wonder what it says.

You're not going to answer?

Well then, Akamine,

please zoom in on the image.

It says "Hiratsuka," doesn't it?

You just removed a document from the file.

What document was it?

You're not going to answer,
as I suspected.

Well then...

please watch very...

carefully.

You should recognize this.

Isn't this identical

to the document submitted
as evidence number 10 by the defense?

TEST REPORT

Later, you took this document and left,
never to return.

Why did you take this document out?

And why did you...

initially assure us
that this document could not exist?

Is it because you removed it yourself
and disposed of it thoroughly?

Accused, please clarify the intent
behind your questions a little further.

My apologies.

I will explain in sequence.

Mr. Hiratsuka, who conducted
the drug and poison test in this case,

has already passed away.

However,
according to his former assistant,

he expressed regret over a mistake
before his death

and wanted to entrust something to him.

Chief Prosecutor Datehara
obtained this information

and promptly went
to search for this thing.

You have seen what happened next.

He likely wanted
to remove evidence of his own tampering

and attempted to conceal it,

unaware that it was a forgery
that I had prepared.

A forgery?

Chief Prosecutor Datehara believed he had
destroyed the evidence of his tampering

and must have felt greatly relieved.

But actually, we entered
the archives before he did

and obtained the original evidence.

However, we knew that
if we presented it in court,

you would make excuse after excuse.

In fact, earlier,
you presented a tampered test report

and claimed the evidence
presented by the defense was fake.

Chief Prosecutor Datehara,

you saw the test report provided
by Mr. Hiratsuka as inconvenient evidence.

We needed to capture the moment
you attempted to destroy this evidence.

So, I instructed my staff

to forge a fake document
identical to the original

and place it in the archives.

Because I anticipated
you would come looking for it,

I also had small cameras set up nearby.

No.

This is a mistake!

There's no way your staff could infiltrate
the police in the first place!

Yes, that's probably true.

Only a limited number
of individuals can enter.

For example, someone within the police or...

a prosecutor.

You?

Midorikawa?

It is the prosecution's inherent duty
to seek the truth

when investigating someone
suspected of corruption, right?

Especially if that person
is one of our own.

Because...

they bring shame upon us.

By the way, this case...

has already been approved
by the Prosecutor General.

THREE DAYS BEFORE
THE SECOND PUBLIC TRIAL

There's something I need
to discuss with both of you.

Ms. Shiraki?

Prosecutor Midorikawa.

I'm sorry for my harsh words
the other day.

I couldn't say otherwise
in front of Kikuchi.

He follows me everywhere.

Mr. Akizumi also told me to keep quiet
until the last minute to fool Datehara.

Then...

Reiko, Akizumi, and I
studied law together...

and became prosecutors together.

When Reiko first told me

about Datehara's corruption,

I couldn't believe it.

Any evidence?

Huh?

Evidence that Mr. Datehara covered it up.

I don't...

If it's just rumors,
it's not worth verifying.

As a prosecutor,
you should have better things to do.

We already have
enough criminals to deal with.

You might've asked the wrong person.

Akizumi is the one
who got Shimizu to confess.

But sorry, Reiko.

I also think those are just rumors.

Mr. Datehara suddenly rose to success
after that case, right?

I bet some people are just envious.

I finally believed her

right before she passed away.

She entrusted files
to both me and Akizumi.

From then on, we worked desperately...

to find evidence of Datehara's corruption.

Akizumi.

My request was accepted.

I'll be posted to the Tokyo office
where Datehara is.

I may still be in a low position,

but I'm determined
to make Datehara notice me.

We'll fulfill Reiko's wish no matter what.

I will...

resign as a prosecutor.

Are you going to give up?

Even if I investigate from within,

I'll only be crushed.

Akizumi would work from outside,
while I work from within the prosecution.

We decided to search for the footage
that will exonerate Mr. Shimizu.

Time passed without any progress.

Until...

the m*rder at Hanegi Seiko
set everything into motion.

Hiyama used to live in Hanamigawa Ward,
Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture,

near the park where Mr. Shimizu
was searching for the stuffed animal.

After some digging...

I discovered a deposit record
from Spilldoor in Hiyama's account,

with the deposits
starting around 12 years ago.

Hoping I could get information
about Spilldoor and Egoshi,

I ordered a careful interrogation.

It's my policy to conduct
thorough investigations.

That's why it took so long
to indict the case.

I actually wanted
to speak with Hiyama in person.

But interrogations
by prosecutors are recorded.

If I had asked
about what happened 12 years ago,

Datehara would have
definitely heard about it.

So, you asked Mr. Akizumi to defend him.

Then...

did you handle Shoichiro's trial because...

Yes, I volunteered.

I knew that exposing Tomita's corruption

would lead to revealing
Ms. Seko's corruption as well.

That footage...

You exposed my client's false testimony.

Thank you.

Putting his specific approaches aside,

Akizumi did marvelously.

In that case, did you know
that Datehara was in contact with Egoshi?

I only realized what was happening
after the video was deleted.

Shocked doesn't even describe how I felt.

I wondered what I had been
working so hard for.

But...

You people discovered...

the poison test report had been altered.

But in the end,

we couldn't find
any evidence of tampering.

Yes.

That's why Mr. Akizumi
played his final ace.

I have a favor to ask you.

Only you can do this.

I want you to give this to Datehara.

I've already made arrangements for it.

I'm sure she'll handle herself
wisely around Datehara.

What are you planning?

To lure Datehara into the courtroom.

This was Mr. Akizumi's strategy.

It was to get arrested himself.

True.

If he could corner Datehara in a courtroom
that's attracting public attention,

it would be evidence
that could never be concealed.

So...

Here it is.

"Mr. Hiratsuka left
evidence of tampering out of goodwill."

Upon hearing this information,

you retrieved the document
from the crime lab.

This action alone serves
as stronger evidence than anything else

that you tampered with the report.

If someone learned about the existence
of a document before it was tampered with,

and attempted to dispose of it,

they could only be someone
involved in the tampering.

The test report, crucial evidence
of m*rder, had been tampered with.

With this fact,

I intend to request
a retrial for Mr. Shimizu.

Mr. Shimizu was wrongly accused
due to your unlawful actions.

This crime...

or securing an acquittal for a m*rder*r,

which is the greater crime?

Even if it means failing
to arrest ten true criminals...

we must not punish an innocent person.

Your Honor!

Just now,

the accused has raised suspicions
of evidence tampering in another case.

As the prosecution,

we will responsibly investigate
the truth of these claims.

Today, during Attorney Akizumi's trial,
it was revealed

that evidence in a case
from 12 years ago was tampered with.

I strongly advocate for a reinvestigation.

If these suspicions are true,

wouldn't it imply that the verdict
you delivered was a mistake?

Yes, it would.

You admit to a past misjudgment
alongside accepting bribes?

You have betrayed the people and now
you criticize Chief Prosecutor Datehara?

I don't care how you interpret it.

People are weak.

That's why the risk
of one human judging another

always looms over the justice system.

We must never forget this.

A precious life is on the line.

Please conduct
a thorough reinvestigation into this case.

That is my earnest request.

Thank you very much.

Thanks to your courageous accusation,

public opinion will shift significantly.

Now, neither the prosecution...

nor the entire judicial world
can turn a blind eye.

No, I'll never let them do so.

You really are a strong person.

You got close to me for Ms. Momose, right?

I was aware that
you and Akizumi were peers

and that you disliked
working under Datehara.

Why did you keep
that information from Datehara?

I envied you.

We were both women, yet even though
you were close to Datehara...

you never compromised your principles.

Unlike someone weak like me.

I'm sure you...

will succeed.

Ms. Seko, you've paved the way for women...

in this insular judicial world.

Even now,

you're trying to confront
your past mistakes.

I think you're a strong person.

In the end, following that,

thanks to Ms. Midorikawa's efforts
as well,

Datehara's indictment was confirmed.

I see.

It appears she interrogated Egoshi
and got him to testify

about Mr. Shimizu's alibi footage
and how he gave it to Datehara.

Datehara can be prosecuted

for withholding crucial evidence
that could lead to a retrial.

Mr. Akizumi.

The evidence we presented as the defense...

it was forged, wasn't it?

SATOSHI HIRATSUKA

Mr. Hiratsuka never left
anything out of goodwill, did he?

Ms. Midorikawa didn't acquire
that document before Datehara did.

She simply placed the document
forged by Mr. Aoyama into the archives.

People's goodwill doesn't count for much.

I...

understand that.

COURTHOUSE

I don't recall.

What do you say to the testimony
that you concealed the footage

proving Mr. Shimizu's alibi?

I don't recall.

You don't recall.

Does that mean you might have done it?

No.

It means I don't recall.

I received a report

that a man similar to Mr. Shimizu
was in this footage,

and I immediately
brought it to Mr. Datehara.

And what did the accused say?

He instructed me to pretend
the video was never found.

And you concealed it as instructed?

Yes.

Lastly, do you have something
to say to the accused?

No.

Except...

until the moment he saw the footage...

I believe Mr. Datehara genuinely thought
Mr. Shimizu was guilty.

I had never seen him so shaken before.

In our hatred for criminals

and our strong sense of duty
to administer justice...

An extreme sense of justice

can sometimes make us go astray.

However...

even that is no excuse.

Mr. Datehara and I...

simply abused our government authority
to shift things

to suit our own convenience.

And this caused
immense suffering to an innocent man

and allowed the real culprit to go free.

Even if I spend the rest of my life
to make amends...

it will never be enough.

To Mr. Yusaku Shimizu and his family,

and to the citizens
whose trust I have betrayed...

I sincerely...

apologize.

Twelve years ago,

you were involved in Mr. Shimizu's case
as the accused's subordinate.

Yes.

Could you please tell us
how you feel right now?

I've been...

carrying regret all this time.

The fact that I coerced
Mr. Shimizu into confessing

despite his consistent denials.

I stripped Mr. Shimizu
of his freedom and dignity,

and destroyed his bond with his family.

These crimes will never disappear.

When I first met Ms. Saya Shimizu,

her mother, Ms. Sanae, was still alive.

Ms. Sanae visited
the Chiba office with Ms. Saya,

who was only five years old at the time.

CHIBA DISTRICT
PUBLIC PROSECUTORS OFFICE

Excuse me.

Yes?

Did Yusaku Shimizu...

Are you here to visit him?

If so, only attorneys are permitted
to see him at this time.

Excuse me.

Wait!

Did Yusaku Shimizu...

really commit m*rder?

That is what the prosecution believes.

No!

Daddy is sweet!

He's not a bad person!

Saya.

Let's go home.

I want to see Daddy.

I want to see Daddy!

She believed in her father
and kept waiting for his return.

And her hope was taken away...

by us.

She desired a family
more than anyone else.

Mill thinks you're the actual father.

If we're Mill and Mame's dad and mom,
that will make us family.

I guess so.

Yay!

Thanks to you, Mame,
I have a family now too!

Mr. Datehara.

You spent 12 years with your daughter.

What was it like?

You must have been very happy.

But that happiness was built upon the life
you took from Mr. Shimizu and Ms. Saya.

What nonsense. Absurd.

Stop with the lofty rhetoric.

People compete...

and take from each other.

That's just how the world works.

To protect those you care about,

you must prevail
even at the expense of others!

Do not speak out of turn...

Shimizu had plenty of reasons
to be suspected.

He was involved in embezzlement.
He's a criminal!

He deserved to lose his reputation
and his family.

Are you going to blame all of that on me?!

This society...

never gives a second chance

to someone who strays even once.

Everyone is desperate
to climb up in this world,

so those who make mistakes
get trampled upon.

This is the truth.

This is reality.

Can you repeat those same words...

to your daughter?

On a sudden whim,
anyone can unintentionally go astray.

And if your daughter does so
and gets trampled upon,

will you, as a father, tell her...

that it can't be helped?

That's just how the world works?

As you mentioned,

the world is far from fair.

Completely innocent people

lose their lives.

Some wield wealth and power,

building up and concealing
years and decades of evil deeds.

In this unfair world,

everyone unconsciously

judges others by their own standards
and punishes them.

Sometimes,

these punishments are so severe
that recovery is almost impossible.

It's truly horrifying.

And yet this is the reality.

Because...

judging other people

feels satisfying.

What are laws exactly?

We use laws to impartially determine
whether someone is innocent or guilty.

But ultimately, laws are human creations.

Is someone declared innocent
by law truly innocent?

Could absolute innocence
exist beyond guilt?

Perhaps it's our duty,

as builders of this world,
to continue pondering this.

Bravo!

What a grand speech.

After all you've done to defy the law,
you dare say that?

Anyone would commit m*rder
to protect someone dear to them.

Yes, the person I am now would k*ll.

But that's not all.

I would drag them down to hell

and stand guard
so they could never crawl back out.

Until you repent for your sins
and seek atonement.

Together,

let's go to hell.

We're going to be late! We'll be off!

Take care.

-See you!
-Bye!

You're forgetting your handbag!

-Oh, my handbag!
-Take care!

Right!

In the previous public trial, Datehara
continued to deny his involvement.

But in this trial, he reversed course
and made a comment admitting to his crime.

Concealing evidence footage

and altering
a drug and poison test report.

His admission is expected

to significantly impact the circumstances
and lead to Mr. Shimizu's retrial.

The public is closely following
these developments,

with increasing calls for a retrial.

Now we're ready
to welcome Mr. Akizumi anytime.

Yes.

Datehara has suddenly
begun admitting his involvement...

The police will also arrive here soon.

You can tell them everything.

All right.

I'm...

grateful.

For allowing a criminal like me
to assist Mr. Shimizu.

I simply took advantage of you.

And don't be mistaken.

Just because you helped someone

doesn't diminish your crime.

Should a criminal...

not have hope?

If you think of the victim's family,
of course not.

How should you feel

and respond to those you've harmed?

Confronting this without turning away

is the mission...

you now face.

Keep living, no matter what.

TO HARUKO AND MINATO HANEGI

With Ms. Midorikawa's cooperation,

I believe you'll be released soon.

There will be a reinvestigation
regarding your involvement

in aiding a false accusation...

Asuka.

Step down from my defense.

Why?

To ensure a fair trial,

I'll hire a different attorney.

Are you saying...

I'm not reliable?

That's not it.

Having a father defended by his daughter...

is lame, isn't it?

Okay.

But I'll come again.

Dad.

Reiko...

we...

worked hard, didn't we?

Mr. Yusaku Shimizu's retrial

has been approved!

RETRIAL APPROVED

Dad.

Welcome back.

I'm back.

Saya.

I see.

So, he was safely released.

The retrial is still in the future,

but I'll secure his acquittal
no matter what.

Thank you.

We wouldn't have gotten this far
without you all.

There's something...

that's been on my mind.

Why...

did you let me join your office?

When I first saw you...

I order him to leave!

Are you people here
to frame an innocent person for a crime?

As someone involved in the law,

you mustn't forget
that you carry the trust of the people!

Shouldn't that be your pride
as someone standing in the courtroom?

Hey!

...That we can

restore trust and pride

in the justice system.

I believed that your principles

would help clear Mr. Shimizu
of his false accusation.

There are two types of people.

Those who confront the truth

and those who turn away.

You...

were just as I expected.

You said, didn't you?

That you'd commit m*rder
to protect someone dear to you.

Yes.

I knew you'd see it through.

I'm proud to have had
someone like you on my team.

I've been pondering

ever since that trial.

What are laws exactly?

Laws are meant to help people

make amends for their crimes
and start over.

That's what I thought.

But now I understand.

The world isn't
forgiving enough to pardon you...

once you've atoned for your crimes.

It's not fair either.

To combat such unfairness...

perhaps an antihero is necessary.

So this time...

I'll secure an acquittal for you.

Well then, I'll ask again.

From here on,
think very carefully before you answer.

Did you really...

commit m*rder?