Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Latte in the Courtroom
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Kang Hyun slowly opened his mouth.
"Im Hye-ran is the co-guardian of the victim in this case, the dog Latte. I request that the application to call her as a witness be accepted, allowing Latte to be brought into the courtroom directly."
"...!"
"A dog... directly?"
The crowd buzzed with murmurs, and court staff nearly fell over in shock.
Lawyers shot up their hands one after another, trying to block Kang Hyun's request.
"Your Honor! A dog in the courtroom?"
"Please allow photos or other evidence to be submitted later! A vet's diagnosis is sufficient!"
The court clerks and staff waved their hands in refusal as well.
"No way. A dog in the courtroom!"
"There's never been a precedent..."
Companion animals rarely appeared directly in the solemn, rigid courtrooms of Korea.
If quantified in percentages, it approached zero, and even then, photos or similar evidence were submitted later only if absolutely essential for establishing the facts.
It was such an outrageous proposal that even the judge pressed both hands to his forehead.
"Plaintiff's side, are you saying you intend to bring the dog from this case into the courtroom right now?"
"Yes. Please allow co-guardian Im Hye-ran to be called as a witness and attend with Latte. There is no procedural issue whatsoever."
"Procedural issue? Does that even make sense! Show me the regulation that allows bringing a dog into the courtroom! This is a sacred court..."
The furious Kim Kyung-don shouted, but Kang Hyun fired back immediately.
"Then show me the regulation prohibiting companion animals from entering the courtroom. The Constitution, Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure, court rules—none of them say anything about it."
"W-What? Such sophistry..."
"The sophistry is coming from the defense. Your Honor, under Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the Court Security Management Rules, unless Latte is deemed a dangerous object in the courtroom, entry by the companion dog Latte is naturally permitted. A dog that can't use its hind legs can't possibly be a danger in court. Whether Latte can enter is entirely up to the court's discretion."
Kang Hyun's logic was precise and airtight.
The one flustered now was Judge Kim Kwang-taek.
"This is... hold on a moment..."
"Your Honor! This request is absurd!"
"Absurd? Does counsel have something to lose if Latte enters the courtroom?"
"W-What? Look at you getting cheeky..."
"Quiet, everyone!"
As Judge Kim Kwang-taek spoke after deliberating, the room fell silent.
All eyes turned to the judge. He cleared his throat and looked at Kang Hyun.
"Plaintiff's side, can the companion dog from this case be called immediately?"
"Kwon Yong-sik's wife, Im Hye-ran, is waiting outside the courtroom with Latte."
"...Waiting already."
The judge's final moment of hesitation passed.
It was unprecedented, an unimaginable form of witness examination.
The decisive turning point for resolving this case.
At last, he spoke.
"Permission granted."
"This is ridiculous..."
The defense lawyers bit their lips and glared at Kang Hyun.
He remained composed, calmly awaiting the judge's next words.
Reluctantly, the defense lawyers' eyes also turned to the judge.
"The plaintiff's claim to submit 'evidence viewing' during evidentiary examination cannot be accepted. However, the companion dog in this case is the most central subject matter, and some of the plaintiff's assertions can only be judged by seeing the dog directly. Therefore, the request to call joint guardian Im Hye-ran as a witness is accepted."
"Your Honor!"
"This is outrageous!"
The lawyers' faces darkened. They looked positively anxious, as if something disastrous had occurred.
They were skilled attorneys from Daesan. There was no way they didn't know what Kang Hyun was after.
Kang Hyun was challenging the unbreakable logic of Korean civil law since its inception.
That companion animals, as tangible objects, were defined as mere "property."
And the Daesan lawyers knew full well that if the dog entered the courtroom, half of Kang Hyun's intent would already be achieved.
The courtroom doors swung open wide.
A woman appeared.
She cradled a small dog whose hind legs were wrapped tightly in bandages, whimpering faintly.
The heart of this case.
Kwon Yong-sik's companion dog, Latte.
"Oh!"
"The dog is here for real!"
"This is insane. What's going on?"
She entered the courtroom tensely, passed the gallery, and stood behind the witness stand.
Latte, sensing the unfamiliar atmosphere it had never experienced, stayed quietly nestled in Im Hye-ran's arms.
Kwon Yong-sik stared at her with wide eyes. When his gaze met his companion dog's, sorrow filled his face.
"Quiet! Silence!"
The judge worked to quell the rising voices once more. The lawyers hurriedly straightened out their argument materials, staring in astonishment.
Once she sat at the witness stand under the usher's guidance, the courtroom entered a brief lull.
Everyone stared straight ahead in silence. The audience was dying of curiosity about Kang Hyun's strategy.
The witness oath proceeded calmly. Once it concluded, the judge addressed the witness.
"Witness, Im Hye-ran. Is that you?"
"Yes, it is."
"What is your relationship to the plaintiff and defendant?"
When she didn't understand, the court usher beside her explained briefly.
"Ah, this side is my husband, and that side is the man who hit our Latte with his car and injured it."
"Hold on, Your Honor! 'Hit the dog with his car'?"
From the defense, the previously silent defendant Jeong Kyung-yoon.
Who had shown no interest in the trial until now, suddenly raised his hand in agitation.
"Your Honor, I admit I hit the dog. But phrasing it like that!"
"He did make our Latte disabled."
"I'm innocent! The dog got hurt because of its owner. And making this fuss over some mutt!"
"What did you say? You're done talking!"
"You think I haven't spoken up? What about my sports car's repair bill?"
"W-What?"
"Woof woof!"
Latte growled lowly, sensing the tension.
The impact of the case's central dog appearing in person was beyond imagination.
The previously quiet defendant started yelling and pointing fingers, and Kwon Yong-sik, getting worked up, fired back emotionally.
"I'm a victim too! If you'd just paid attention to the dog!"
"I was walking following Latte. I was watching carefully. The car came out of nowhere and hit it!"
Their voices grew louder, turning the courtroom chaotic.
Bang bang bang!
For the first time in this trial, the gavel struck.
"Quiet. Silence, everyone! What is this commotion in my courtroom!"
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry."
Once plaintiff and defendant sat back down, their lawyers swarmed them like cornermen during a boxing match break.
Kang Hyun, however, calmly organized his materials and prepared swiftly.
'This is the chance.'
Now, Kang Hyun had to elevate the dog beyond a mere "object" judged by law.
Getting the dog into the courtroom—the hardest part—was done.
Now came his argument.
He had to push with all his might.
"Hoo."
The judge, having made the tough call, looked at Kang Hyun and spoke. Kang Hyun was poised to stand the instant the judge finished.
"Plaintiff's side. Proceed with examination."
He stood.
"Thank you, Your Honor."
No sooner had the judge spoken than Kang Hyun bowed and stepped forward naturally.
Click.
Kang Hyun, as counsel, began his first formal witness examination.
His bold voice echoed through the courtroom.
"Witness, what is your relationship to the victim companion dog?"
"Latte... was family, like a son to us. When I was suffering from depression with no kids at home, this angel came into our lives."
"Then, what kind of dog is Latte?"
"A smart, lively kid who loved walks so much. Thinking about that day..."
Recalling the accident, she faltered, unable to continue, and tears welled up.
Sensing her emotion, Latte licked her neck as she sniffled.
"What were your feelings?"
"Pardon?"
"Your feelings."
"My baby... became paraplegic... How can I even express it..."
Her voice trembled with emotion. Kang Hyun regarded her calmly.
"Why is that?"
"...Because Latte is irreplaceable, something nothing else can substitute for."
"Irreplaceable. Correct?"
"Yes."
Kang Hyun repeated the word and paced a small circle.
To give the audience time to think.
"Now, about Latte's market value. If you had to price it, what would you say?"
"Market value? Latte is a mixed breed, but it's the one and only dog in the world."
She stated firmly. Kwon Yong-sik nodded vigorously as well.
"I see. So Latte is the one and only dog in the world?"
"Of course."
"Unique. One of a kind."
For the second time, he paused. Then continued.
"Do you believe the dog has fully recovered?"
"Recovered? Sir... Latte can't walk anymore."
Gently placing Latte on the floor, the dog whimpered and crawled forward with its front paws, flailing.
"Whimper... whimper..."
The courtroom filled with sympathetic gasps and tongue clicks.
"How could they do that to it."
"Turned it into a disabled dog completely."
Kang Hyun looked up.
"You said Latte cannot recover as before. No other options?"
"...Yes."
The mood flowed exactly as Kang Hyun wanted. He pressed on.
"Good. Now, questions about Kwon Yong-sik."
"Yes."
"As owner, has Kwon Yong-sik devoted himself to Latte?"
"To my husband, Latte was more than a child..."
Tears in her eyes, she continued.
"My husband has severe dog hair anaphylaxis. Without meds, he passes out."
Shock. And a twist.
A companion dog owner with severe fur allergy.
"Dog hair allergy?"
"But how do you raise a dog like that?"
"Won't he die if he's not careful?"
Kang Hyun's examination was layering astonishment upon astonishment for the audience.
'So that's how it is.'
Song Ha-dong nodded in satisfaction.
Even knowing he couldn't raise a companion dog, his devotion showed.
It was the ultimate proof of love beyond mere attachment to an object.
"We've submitted the relevant diagnosis and doctor's opinion for this testimony. Please review."
"Understood."
Kang Hyun finished addressing the judge and nodded to Im Hye-ran to continue.
"Yes, just having Latte nearby turns his whole body red. Yet he always carried it in his arms, took care of everything."
"Even though holding Latte could endanger his life, why do you think he did it?"
"Because he loved it."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"When you love something, your body won't get in the way..."
She began sobbing outright. Kang Hyun showed no particular reaction to her tears or sobs.
Kang Hyun stepped back briefly, then addressed the judge.
"Respected Your Honor."
All eyes turned to Kang Hyun.
It was the moment everyone was desperate to hear his words.
"The witness has just explained the uniqueness of the companion dog at the center of this case, its irreplaceability, its impossibility of recovery, and 'love.'"
Kang Hyun paced a few steps as he continued.