Animal Detective

Chapter 518: Chapter 422: The Complete Criminal Process

Inside the interrogation room, Guo Jinhua was convulsing violently. His expression was terrifying, and strange, suppressed noises gurgled from his throat.

The on-site medic immediately halted the interrogation.

Yang Zeran and Zhao Tianxing rushed forward and frantically carried him out.

Sun Zhao quickly got up and hurried out after them.

Shen Xin immediately followed.

In the infirmary, Guo Jinhua was given a sedative, and he gradually calmed down.

Outside the door, Sun Zhao stood with his arms crossed, a complex expression on his face.

Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Zhao Tianxing spoke quietly, "So what’s the deal with him? Did he mess up? The reason he poisoned himself... was he trying to commit suicide from the start?"

No one answered.

Yang Zeran’s brow was deeply furrowed.

Shen Xin crossed his arms, feeling uneasy as well.

It was Director Yan, who had also been present observing the interrogation, who broke the silence. "I think he might be overcome with guilt," he said softly. "Especially after Guo Meijing passed away. He blames himself immensely."

"He described it himself. He said that no one understood him, that no one knew how much pain he was in."

"I think, at that time, he must have been filled with regret, feeling that he was the one who made the decision to stop his daughter’s treatment."

"And he could never vent these feelings, so he eventually found an outlet: shifting the blame for this mistake onto someone else. Onto Fu Lanting."

"He probably didn’t say that he was the one who made the final call, but he was conflicted. And while he was struggling with it, Fu Lanting said they should respect Guo Meijing’s wishes."

"That led to an argument, and in the end, he blamed Fu Lanting for everything."

"When he was describing the process of poisoning Fu Lanting, his mannerisms, his whole state—it was all wrong."

"I think it was like he was atoning for his sins. When he said he ’got used to it,’ it might be because, in his heart, he accepted this as his method of atonement."

"And so, every few days, he was able to calmly administer the poison. Shen Xin, I don’t think his mental state was normal during that period."

As for whether he was normal now, even Director Yan found it hard to say.

Zhao Tianxing pursed his lips. "A guy like that? No way he’s normal."

Shen Xin stopped him and asked, "Director Yan, it’s been so long. It’s impossible to evaluate his mental state at the time of the crime, right?"

At Shen Xin’s words, Sun Zhao also turned to look at Director Yan.

He had reminded Shen Xin before that Guo Jinhua’s situation was special and required caution.

He was considering that Guo Jinhua was seriously ill, had nerve damage, and was in a poor mental state—all factors that could affect the final sentence.

It could easily change a death sentence to a suspended death sentence.

How could Director Yan not understand the implication in Shen Xin’s words? He thought for a moment and said, "That would certainly be difficult. Why don’t you ask the legal department? See what they say."

Shen Xin and Sun Zhao exchanged a look. They had to ask.

There was nothing seriously wrong with Guo Jinhua; his episode had just been caused by extreme agitation.

Immediately, Shen Xin and Sun Zhao went to the Municipal Bureau together.

During the investigation of criminal cases, they could consult the legal department for their opinion on any uncertain legal matters.

After arriving at the Municipal Bureau and heading upstairs from the car, Sun Zhao asked quietly, "Shen Xin, what are your thoughts on this?"

Shen Xin knew what he was asking. "Captain Sun, I don’t think we can take his confession at face value and assume he had no malicious intent to murder."

"He knew the consequences of poisoning. He subjectively wanted to make Fu Lanting suffer the same pain as his daughter. He deliberately used disposable cutlery, claiming it was to prevent others from being poisoned, but it was actually to evade investigation later."

Throughout the interrogation, Guo Jinhua came across as pitiful, full of self-blame and pain—a wretched father tormented by the loss of his daughter.

It was as if everything he did was justifiable.

But that couldn’t conceal the fact that he had premeditated Fu Lanting’s murder.

’He had malicious intent, shifting the blame to Fu Lanting.’

’Then he used the cruelest of methods to murder her.’

’As for poisoning himself, maybe it was out of some so-called sense of atonement, but that’s not the main point.’

’When it comes to the premeditated murder of Fu Lanting, he still displayed clear malicious intent.’

’He had a clear motive, he planned the method, he acquired the means, and then he committed the crime.’

’That is a complete criminal process.’

’There was no attempt to stop the crime midway through.’

’We can’t ignore the objective facts just because he says he didn’t want it to be this way.’

’So forget all this crap about the pain of losing a daughter. He chose to vent his pain on Fu Lanting, which is no different from me feeling pissed off today, grabbing a knife, and killing someone to blow off steam.’

Sun Zhao looked Shen Xin up and down, his gaze filled with satisfaction and approval.

"Shen Xin, you’ve really matured."

Sun Zhao smiled and continued walking. "As detectives, to put it bluntly, we see the most tragic things in this world, the ugliest forms of malice."

"We’re not made of stone. We’re all human. We feel sympathy, disgust, all sorts of emotions. That’s all very normal."

"But our principles can’t change, we can’t forget our responsibilities, and our minds must always stay clear and not be swayed."

"Back at the precinct, Chen Chao and I were always keeping an eye on you, so we weren’t worried you’d get into trouble. Now that you’ve transferred to the Municipal Bureau and are leading your own investigations, I was actually quite concerned."

"But now... I think you’re ready."

He reached out and patted Shen Xin’s shoulder, a smile on his face.

The person he had mentored was now independent, flying solo. How could Sun Zhao not have been worried?

There’s a world of difference between having someone watching over you while you solve a case and being the one in charge.

Shen Xin froze for a second. ’So that question earlier was a test,’ he thought.

"Well, that’s because you’re a good teacher," Shen Xin said quickly.

Sun Zhao laughed heartily and said no more, leading Shen Xin straight to the legal department.

The legal department’s opinion was that it was a bit troublesome.

A psychiatric evaluation would still need to be done.

As for Shen Xin’s line of reasoning, they agreed with it.

In the end, they also implicitly indicated that the final sentence would likely still be the death penalty.

Whether he had mental problems at the time of the crime was a muddled account; after nearly three years, it was impossible to figure out clearly.

But this case also had a crucial factor attached to it.

Namely, its heinous nature and huge social impact.

Back when the crime occurred, it drew a great deal of public attention and once threw the nearby residents into a state of panic.

On that point alone, the punishment could not be lenient.

With them saying that, Shen Xin now had a better sense of things.

Shen Xin had been genuinely afraid that he would be given a suspended death sentence due to mental issues.

That would mean the man would live.

And he had severe uremia and was partially paralyzed, unable to care for himself. With the uremia especially, the prison didn’t have dialysis equipment, nor could they take him to the hospital for dialysis twice a week.

In that situation, he would most likely be released on medical parole.

And then he would go home to continue waiting for death.

That would be no different from his current situation, just with the added layer of community corrections.

It wasn’t that Shen Xin wanted Guo Jinhua to get the death penalty for personal, emotional reasons; he just truly hoped the man would receive the punishment he deserved.

And not escape that punishment because of his severe illness.

As he thought of this, a sudden, almost devilish idea popped into his head.

What if, when Guo Jinhua chose to poison himself, he had already considered the possibility that he would survive and then be able to escape punishment because of the aftereffects?

If that were the case, then this man...

Shen Xin shivered. ’No, probably not,’ he thought. ’A scenario like that could probably only exist in theory.’

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