Original subtitles

"What would you do...

if you were arrested for a crime you didn't commit?"

I would fight till the end, because I didn't do anything bad.

You didn't do anything? Don't be ridiculous!

I know you did it!

It's false charges, right?

It doesn't really happen nowadays, does it?

Don't underestimate the police's investigation.

Only you were at the crime scene!

If I didn't do it, I can stay calm during the questioning.

People who are innocent but say they did it are too weak-minded!

If you still won't admit it, I'll really...

I did it.

I set the house on fire.

"There is a young lawyer who takes on wrong verdicts."

Oh, Mr Kurokawa?

It is unusual for young lawyers nowadays

to have so much passion for criminal cases.

"Hoshundo Law Office"

"Indictment"

"Set his home on fire..."

Mr Kurokawa?

He's a good senior.

He's easy-going, even towards me, a paralegal...

- Go to work over there. - Okay.

I'm the head of the office, Beppu.

Kurokawa is brilliant as the lawyer in charge of criminal cases,

but our office puts most of our resources into corporate law cases.

We also deal with difficult mergers and acquisitions cases.

For legal consultation, please contact us at Hoshundo Law Office.

"False charges, death penalty"

"Set it on fire.... escape outside from home."

He confessed his crime.

Mr Kurokawa?

"Kaede Wakura, lawyer"

Frankly, he's impossible as a person.

Look at his desk!

It's a mess, isn't it?

He's sloppy in his nature.

The most unbelievable thing is,

he is poor, so he lives in our office's storage room.

Anyway, why don't you cover me in your show instead?

- Ouch! - I am sorry!

- Are you okay? - I'm okay.

Calm down, Miss Wakura.

I'm sorry!

Hey, please don't get in the way of our shooting.

I am sorry.

She just joined our office a month ago.

It's a long story.

Yeah, many things happened and Miss Wakura is desperate.

After all, she used to work at James Yuri Law Office

and she was the promising rookie.

James Yuri?

The largest law firm in Tokyo?

Why did you come to this law office?

It's a long story.

She punched her boss and got fired.

If you're telling a story, tell it accurately.

I was sexually assaulted and my self-defence resulted in

an unjust dismissal.

Oh... Sorry to hear that.

By the way, where is the centre of our attention today?

He shut himself at home because he doesn't want to be interviewed.

It isn't his home, it's our storage room.

"Taku Kurokawa's home"

Yes? Oh... Good afternoon.

What's the matter?

We've told you that we would be visiting today, Mr Taku Kurokawa.

Oh. I'm sorry,

but I think I've turned down your request.

Your office's head and Mr Yufuin gave us permission.

Kurokawa, is it really not okay?

I'm just really not good at this, and I'm afraid that...

people would get the wrong idea if I appear on telly.

I am really sorry... Thanks.

I think we should come again another day.

I'm sorry. You came a long way here, but he did this.

Let's go.

The guy seems laid back.

Is the lawyer so brilliant that he's worth you covering, Miss Arima?

Taku Kurokawa, 29 years old. Third year in his lawyer career.

He has won and overturned five false charges so far.

Five in three years?

Do you know how hard it is to overturn a false charge

under Japan's current judicial system?

No.

If a person is prosecuted, they are almost 100 percent guilty.

- Then... - Yes.

Five cases in three years is an amazing number.

But is he so good that a TV show would interview him?

All five cases were theft or minor bodily injury,

the cases weren't very difficult.

Miss Arima has always been interested in false convictions,

I've known her for a long time too.

Even theft and assault charges are difficult to win in court.

Well, he's worth interviewing more than someone

with no track record.

I've only been given chores since I joined your office!

Mr Kurokawa, I've asked you many times,

but will you tidy up your desk?

Sure, I'll do it later.

What are you looking for?

Documents of an arson case. The client will be here soon.

What? Client? Did you take a case?

Yes, some days ago.

Didn't I tell you?

You didn't tell us! Why do you never do things properly?

Sorry, I was too forgetful.

Found it.

Gosh!

I am sorry.

"Innocence, Fight Against False Charges"

"Episode 1"

The case happened on 13th October, 2018.

Mrs Aso was out on that day

and the suspect, Shigeo Aso, was home alone.

"Shigeo Aso, the accused"

A fire broke out at 12 am.

Spray water on the house!

Spray water towards the upper floor at the entrance!

The fire was thought to be an accident at first,

but further investigation suggested the possibility of arson.

The police saw it as a crime committed for insurance money,

and arrested Shigeo Aso.

Aso confessed the crime after he was arrested.

Your husband made a self-confession.

Yes.

You were not at home on the day of the fire.

Well, I have a disease,

so I stayed at the hospital for a check-up.

But...

"Emiko Aso, the accused's wife"

the police said I did that because I knew about my husband's plan,

and they doubted me.

So they questioned you too?

This is embarrassing...

but our family is in debt,

and they said it was the motive.

Indeed, our life is tough.

But I just can't believe that

my husband would set our house on fire!

But...

Indeed, if your husband had admitted he committed the crime...

Oh, this...

They are Enterprise Sentai Salareader's

Manager Black and Receptionist Pink?

I like them too.

What?

They belonged to our son, who passed away five years ago.

They were the only ones my husband rescued from the fire.

What a pity...

I love Overtime Red most.

He was burned...

Yes, all of them.

- I'm sorry. - It's okay.

There you go.

Sorry. Thank you.

What are you going to do?

I don't know what I'll do yet.

I have to have an interview with Mr Aso first.

Tell me a rough plan, then.

I am your assistant. Against my will, though.

I mean, the accused made a self-confession, in that case...

The record was well-written, right?

Did you also imagine what happened when you read it?

Imagine?

How the accused set the house on fire

and gloated when gazing at the burning house.

And it's...

We don't know if Mr Shigeo Aso really did it or not yet,

so let's go and talk to him first.

I should've asked earlier,

but do you dress casually when you do an interview?

I've got only one suit.

What about your backpack?

It's convenient if anything happens.

- Convenient? - Yes.

"Tokyo Detention House"

Upon Mrs Aso's request,

I will be the new lawyer in charge of your case, Mr Aso.

I have told the police and the prosecutor everything.

You mean what you said in your self-confession was everything?

Mr Aso?

- Mr Kurokawa... - Your son's things...

Why didn't you take all of them with you?

His photo albums and clothes were burned too.

The Sentai heroes figures too, except Black and Pink,

Overtime Red, Deadwood Blue and Cafeteria Yellow were left behind.

That again?

If you had planned to set the house on fire,

you should've been able to carry everything important with you.

Am I right?

Mr Aso, did you really set the room on the first floor on fire...

as written in the statement?

Did you set your late son, Yukio's room on fire?

Of course I didn't.

The room was full of memories of our son...

why would I set it on fire?

I told them that I didn't do it.

Again...

And again.

Only you were at the crime scene!

We know you did it!

"18th day of detention"

Hey, Aso, if you won't be honest with us,

we'll arrest your wife too.

No! My wife's health is bad, please don't do this.

If you talk to us honestly, we won't be unreasonable.

But...

If you still won't admit it, I'll really...

I did it.

I...

I set my house on fire.

Great. You finally admit it.

I'll take your statement, then.

So, how did you set it on fire?

How?

You committed the crime, so of course you can say what you did.

What did you do to help it burn and where did you do it?

Be specific.

I poured paraffin...

Where?

Well, after our investigation,

we found that setting fire on the ground floor

wouldn't make it burn like that.

In that case, it's the bedroom on the first floor.

But it's dangerous to set your own bedroom on fire.

Isn't it the room next to it?

The room next to it? But it's...

Your son's room, right?

You poured paraffin there and set it on fire.

For the insurance money.

The police had decided what I should say at the very beginning,

then they just got me to sign the statement.

That's awful!

He forced you to make a false self-confession?

Mr Aso.

Please let me ask two questions.

Sure.

One. Can you say what happened during the questioning in court?

Of course.

Two.

Did you set your house on fire?

I did not.

Okay, then.

I'll investigate it thoroughly and defend you.

As I thought, it's pretty damaged.

It's been a long time since the fire.

We're lucky it's still here.

- Let's go, then. - Okay.

What? Hang on...

- What? - Are we going inside?

Wait here if you don't want to get dirty.

Fine, I'll go! It's my job.

The fire department thought

the fire broke out on the ground floor at first, right?

So it seems.

A heater in the Japanese-style room's cupboard

could've caught fire.

The son's room was...

Right above the Japanese-style room?

But why did the police suspect an arson?

They even made Mr Aso make a false self-confession.

Because they made an assumption during the investigation.

The family was in debt, the house was on fire when Mr Aso was alone,

and they got the insurance money.

It's fishy, so they assumed it was arson when they investigated it.

But this is absurd!

It's too nasty!

Nasty... But it's their job as well.

They're coming out!

What were you doing?

Did you come to take a photo of the ghost?

A photo of the ghost?

But nobody died in the house's fire.

No, we mean Yukio!

Yukio?

My big sister said the house was burned because of Yuki's curse.

Yukio? Do you mean Yukio Aso, who used to live here?

I don't know, but it really is cursed.

Boys, would you tell me that in more detail?

Would you like some snacks?

Here is our Human Kiosk.

What human kiosk?

It's Mr Kurokawa's nickname.

His backpack is packed with various things.

The default items are snacks and drinks,

and it has toothbrushes, nail clipper, spare underwear...

Mostly everything.

That doesn't make any sense.

What kind of curse is it?

Various things. A few nights ago, our home...

Hey, what are you doing?

Mummy!

Excuse me, we're lawyers investigating the fire here.

Lawyers? The Aso family's...

Yes, we are.

In that case, will you tell them

to tidy up here before they get a lawyer for the criminal husband?

Our children try to go in and it's dangerous.

Lately, this area has been dangerous enough already.

Come on, let's go.

Let's go.

It was reported in the news, so we're criticised for it.

Yeah.

I wonder what the curse is.

I think it's here.

Okay.

Mr Kurokawa, I did some digging about Yukio Aso.

Oh, thank you.

Yukio? Why did you check him out?

Because I don't know what the key to solving the case is.

Found it. This one too.

It's the video taken by a spectator during the fire of Aso's house.

Wow, that's helpful!

It isn't for free, of course.

Let me interview you. It's give and take.

Kurokawa, using the press can be one of the tactics.

Okay.

All right, then. Please...

- Yes! - Yes!

Yukio Aso. Died aged 10 five years ago in 2014.

He had a congenital heart defect

and had had two surgeries when he was 2 years and 10 months old.

It was the reason that the Aso couple was in debt.

So, Yukio died of the disease?

No, the reason was this...

"Child Killed in A Fire At An Empty Factory"

"Empty factory"?

It's still at the place 200 metres away from Aso's house.

Some children played with fireworks and caused the fire.

Only Yukio didn't escape in time and suffocated in the smoke.

This is heart-breaking.

So the children said it was cursed

because Yukio died in a fire?

Hang on... This isn't right!

How can the fire five years ago be related to this fire?

Well, you're right.

We can't use this information to plead extenuating circumstances!

Aren't we going to argue that the police forced him

to make a false confession?

It's one of the points, of course.

So we should give a flat denial when we defend, right?

If the confession isn't reliable,

then we only need circumstantial evidence.

If we use this approach...

We will certainly lose.

What?

Miss Wakura,

you can't tackle a criminal case in such a straightforward way.

We haven't got enough material to defend him yet.

But we have to do the pre-trial conference procedure soon.

You guys are working.

Oh, Mr Beppu. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon...

Is it the arson case?

What's the chance of winning?

I don't know, I have to go and do some more inspection.

Don't be too hard on us.

Oh, Miss Wakura, do you have a minute?

Yes.

You want me to spy on Mr Kurokawa?

Yes. This might be a false charge, right?

In that case, Kurokawa will surely do something reckless to win.

And he'll spend lots of money and effort to do so.

People in charge of criminal cases don't care about profit,

so we want you to spy on him and stop him from losing control.

But how can I stop him?

If you do your job successfully,

we might transfer you to our corporate law division.

We can let you be a large company's consultant too.

But I shouldn't obstruct Mr Kurokawa's work.

I didn't tell you to obstruct it.

I only want him to work sensibly as a lawyer.

Kurokawa and Mr Yufuin pay too much attention to false charges,

and they criticise the police and public prosecutors too much.

Japan's police and prosecutors are capable.

They don't get a nearly 100 percent conviction rate for nothing.

Even if you fight against them,

as a result, it isn't going to benefit the accused.

Perhaps that's the case, but...

Don't worry, your reputation won't get worse even if you lose.

If it does get worse,

it would be because you can't stop Mr Kurokawa losing control.

"Rintaro Ibusuki, Public Prosecutor"

Ibusuki.

Good afternoon, sir.

"Courthouse"

"Pre-trial conference procedure"

"Procedure to narrow down the number of issues...

to ensure a smooth adjudication"

Oh, gosh... I really can't do it.

Can't do what?

I really hate how it makes me feel like it's strangling me.

Endure it.

Anyway, is it okay?

I said it was torture to dress formally.

I'm not asking that. I mean how you'll defend our client.

How likely will we win when we confront the prosecutor?

I have no idea yet.

We're here already, but you still don't know?

Good afternoon, Mr Kurokawa.

Hello.

You are a new lawyer, right? I'm the public prosecutor, Ibusuki.

I am Wakura.

Please go easy on me, Mr Kurokawa.

You've made me go through many bitter experiences.

Right judgement is more important than winning or losing.

You are right. Let's both do our best.

By the way, I just ran into your father after some time.

Did you?

He's concerned about your future.

You'd better not make him too worried.

Sorry to have kept you waiting. Let's start now.

Yukio...

I'm sorry.

"Courthouse"

Please uncuff him.

On 13th October, 2018, at around 12 am,

at 20-8, Nishimachi 2-chome, Edogawa City,

a wooden house with tile roofing owned by the accused.

The accused poured paraffin on the floor of a room on the first floor,

lit it with a match, and set the house on fire.

As a result, the house the accused and his family lived in

was burned down.

The charge and punitive article is

Arson of Inhabited Buildings, Article 108.

Accused.

In the bill of indictment read by the public prosecutor,

is there any mistake?

Everything was wrong.

- Really? - Seriously?

I did not set my house on fire.

All of that is false.

"Witness waiting room"

Witness, please answer my questions with "yes" or "no".

Yes.

"Defence's questioning"

This case was constructed using only circumstantial evidence.

The police coerced my client into giving a self-confession as evidence

according to my client's testimony. Is that true?

This is not true at all.

- The accused himself... - Excuse me.

I said this at the beginning.

Please answer "yes" or "no".

Yes.

Did you say to my client that if he wouldn't make a confession honestly,

you would arrest his wife?

Is that true?

No.

You said that!

He definitely said it. The look on his face told us.

At first, the oral statement stated that he set fire with a lighter,

but it changed to a match later.

Don't you find it strange?

All suspects change their statement a lot out of guilt,

but I kept talking to him patiently. As a result,

he told me that he felt a weight was lifted off his shoulders,

and even thanked me.

Please answer "yes" or "no".

Yes. I mean...

No.

My client was burned,

but he still carried his late son's things out from the house.

Isn't this and setting the house on fire contradictory?

It isn't.

Instead, he did this to move people's heart

and deceive us, that he didn't commit a crime.

It is very nasty.

Witness, I repeat...

Well, five years have passed since his son died,

so he must have wanted money more than the memory of his son.

He just brought the rubbish out for a show.

Don't be ridiculous!

Shigeo!

What do you know about me?

Do you know how I felt at that time?

Take it back! How dare you make a fool of me!

Be quiet!

Take it back! Take it back!

Be quiet!

Take it back!

"Tokyo Detention House"

Why did you do that?

He obviously provoked you.

He did it to make you angry and give the lay judges a bad impression.

I am sorry.

But I couldn't keep quiet.

He made me feel that my son's feelings were trampled on.

I know how you feel,

but calm down a little, or in the trial, you'll...

I don't mind even if we lose.

Mr Aso...

I was told during the questioning

that my lawyer can only plead extenuating circumstances.

I have to go to prison anyway, so I shouldn't fight back needlessly.

Gosh...

Mr Aso, if you give up, there is no way we can defend you.

If you're convicted guilty in the trial,

they will make you setting Yukio's room on fire a fact.

In that case...

it must be God's punishment.

God's punishment?

Because in the end...

I couldn't protect Yukio.

My husband...

In these five years,

he had always been feeling guilty towards Yukio.

Even though he passed away in an accident?

Our son was born weak.

He couldn't make friends easily because of that.

Our son was bullied at school.

Hang on a second.

That means only Yukio couldn't escape

from the empty factory's fire because...

I don't want to talk about that again after all these years.

It's just... My husband and I...

We were so angry at ourselves that we didn't realise how Yukio felt!

We couldn't protect our son...

Mrs Aso...

Children don't want to make their parents worry too,

so they endure it stubbornly.

It isn't because you and Mr Aso didn't realise,

it's because Yukio tried very hard to hide it from you.

That's what I think.

I have a son too.

Mr Kurokawa.

Can we win the case?

I don't know.

Mr Kurokawa!

But...

We will do our best.

This is the burnt remains of the beam between

the ground and first floor.

As you can see,

the edges of upper side of the beam were burned and rounded off,

but the bottom side wasn't.

"Beam"

The beam is usually attached closely to the floor of the first floor,

so there is no gap for air to go in

and the beam's upper part couldn't have been burned like that.

From this, we can see that the fire broke out on the first floor

and this is the truth, without a doubt.

Thank you, Professor Totsukawa.

As you have heard, according to the expert's analysis,

the fire broke out from the child's bedroom on the first floor.

"Origin of fire Child's bedroom"

The defence lawyer claims that

the heater in the ground floor's Japanese-style room caused the fire.

Indeed, perhaps fire broke out on the first floor as well,

but it happened after the accused set fire on the first floor,

and he also set fire on the ground floor as a deception.

Deception?

It happened in a residential area.

Fortunately, the fire didn't spread to the surrounding area,

but it could have caused a horrible tragedy too.

Committing such a vicious crime like this

for something as selfish as an insurance scam

is definitely unacceptable.

I've finished.

Indeed. The upper side is burnt.

Did you come a long way to verify that?

You took many photos the other day.

Sorry, I think checking the place in its original state

would be more helpful.

Oh... I said original state, but it's burnt.

It isn't funny at all!

I was curious the other day too.

What on earth is this?

I don't know and I think it isn't going to help.

That reminds me.

"Dried fish" Here you go.

Have some. You seem annoyed.

But you won't try not to annoy me?

Okay. Let's go to the next destination, then.

Next?

The empty factory. The one that Yukio died at five years ago.

Why are we going there?

"Keep out"

Can we go inside?

It's against the law.

But someone had been inside.

Even so, it's still against the law!

Maybe it's got a secret path over there?

It is still against the law even if there is!

Gosh!

Ow...

It's a magazine.

Some people probably played airsoft nearby.

Airsoft?

Yes, airsoft. There are BBs on the ground.

That reminds me, in the video of the fire that Miss Arima gave me,

people in military outfits were among the spectators.

So they were playing airsoft here?

Is it a Colt Government?

What's the matter?

What does it have to do with the trial?

Nothing, maybe...

Mr Kurokawa.

Forget your pride and reputation,

will you change to plead extenuating circumstances?

What?

Mr Aso was forced to make a false confession,

but he lost control of himself and gave the judge a bad impression.

The analysis of the fire given by the prosecutor was hard to refute.

We'll surely lose at this rate! We should try to reduce the sentence...

If we do so,

that means we admit that Mr Aso set the child's bedroom on fire.

Miss Wakura, I thought you believed what Mr Aso said?

I believe him!

I heard how he felt towards Yukio.

- But even so... - I see.

Indeed. You must be annoyed if you believe him.

What do you mean?

Mr Kurokawa, do you not trust Mr Aso?

I don't know, because I didn't see the scene of the fire.

What?

Why did you accept the case and plead complete denial?

Because Mr Aso said he didn't do it.

What you say doesn't make sense.

Why do you make assumptions?

What?

They are in debt, there was a fire and they got the insurance money,

so the police assumed that Mr Aso set his house on fire.

Mr Aso loves his son and he said he didn't do it,

so you assumed that he really didn't.

Aren't the two the same?

Well...

I don't know if it's true.

That's why I'm investigating it.

You won't go inside?

You shouldn't. It's against the law.

Did it really happen like that?

Good afternoon. You've got a parcel.

Oh, thank you.

Mr Kurokawa, it's your parcel.

Oh, thanks.

What is that?

We asked Mrs Aso to send us Yukio's things that weren't burned.

I'm so glad they weren't seized.

What's the point of checking them?

What's the matter, Miss Wakura?

Nothing.

I just don't think Mr Kurokawa is serious about defending the client.

What the heck?

Think whatever you want, but Mr Kurokawa...

Wait a second.

What smell is this?

Oh, no!

- What should we do? - What are you doing?

Fire extinguisher...

What... Hey...

Kurokawa!

Seriously?

No...

- Fire extinguisher! - Hey...

Don't mind that, put out the fire!

- Found it! - Get the fire extinguisher!

- The fire extinguisher! Hurry up! - Yes!

Put it out!

Put it out!

He wanted to check whether the fire really burned

in the way the public prosecutor claimed,

so he used a miniature to do it.

He has to do it indoors? This is crazy.

So, why isn't the culprit, Kurokawa, here?

The evidence can't get wet,

so he is checking for damage.

Blimey, he's giving me a headache!

He isn't likely to win the trial too, right?

You can plead extenuating circumstances

or just back out totally.

What do you think, Miss Wakura?

I have no idea...

Anyway, you guys will clean up the mess.

Okay...

I am counting on you to do your job properly, Miss Wakura.

Okay.

Mr Kurokawa is as reckless as always.

He can't see his surroundings when he works on a case.

Does Mr Kurokawa always do this?

"This"? What exactly do you want to ask?

He is always like this.

He isn't happy until he checks everything himself.

Let's clean the place.

Okay.

In Japan, if you're prosecuted for a crime,

there's a nearly 100 percent chance that you'll be found guilty.

That's exactly why pleading extenuating circumstances

is one of the strategies too.

But if the person wasn't caught red-handed,

there must be a blank that the lawyer has to investigate.

Blank?

If you assume you know what happened without checking,

it's the same as taking part in a false charge.

Mr Kurokawa still hasn't returned?

It annoys me that the man who caused the fire isn't cleaning the place.

Indeed.

I'll call him here.

"Christmas 2013"

Mr Kurokawa, you should be responsible for what you did--

Miss Wakura.

It's the curse.

Yes?

The curse... Probably. In other words...

- I see! - Hey!

- Where are you going? - See you!

Mr Kurokawa?

Wait! Where are you going?

You should tell me now!

Wait!

Yes?

I'm Kurokawa, a lawyer. We met the other day.

I'd like to check something with you.

- Check something? - It's very important. Please.

Mr Kurokawa! What do you want to check?

Yes?

Sorry to bother you. Your son...

Mum, hurry up!

- Excuse me. - Hey!

What are you doing? I'll call the police!

Please don't call the police!

- Sorry for coming suddenly. - Who are you?

Lawyer. We met the other day.

Please tell me about Yukio's curse.

"Touo University"

- Excuse me, where are we now? - The university's corridor.

I know that, but why are we at a university?

Come and you'll know.

- Zoom in a bit more. - Okay.

Keep going.

- Okay. - All right.

- Set up Camera B now. - Okay.

Hello, Miss Arima.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Where is Dr Akiu? - Working.

That guy is as unfriendly to me as always.

Dr Akiu, thank you for today too.

It's ready. Let's start now.

Okay.

I haven't seen you before.

This is Miss Wakura. She just joined us.

This is Touo University's Physics Department's associate professor,

Dr Kyoichiro Akiu.

I'm Wakura. Nice to meet you.

You don't look like a lawyer. I thought you were a student.

Yes? I am 26 years old already.

No, I mean you have the looks and the mind of a student.

Let's begin.

What's wrong with him?

Don't worry about it. He's always like that.

Anyway, what is he going to start doing here?

Kurokawa will surely do something reckless to win.

So we want you to spy on him and stop him from losing control.

Is this what "lose control" means?

Experiment?

Why did that happen?

He did it himself and didn't tell me.

Stop him now! Even if you have to risk your life!

Risk my life?

I can't possibly stop this!

"Courthouse"

Defence lawyer, please do your cross-examination.

Yes, your honour.

Regarding the testimony you gave last time,

I would like to check it with you again.

The upper side of the beam was burned and rounded off,

but the bottom wasn't.

If the beam is attached closely to the floor of the first floor,

this cannot happen, because there is no gap for air to go in.

- Is that right? - It is.

If the fire doesn't break out on the first floor,

the beam won't be in this condition.

Are you sure about that?

Yes, I'm sure about it.

Sorry, I would like to ask again.

Air can't go in, because there isn't a gap.

Is that what you say?

You are very annoying.

Even an assistant at my university knows that.

It's just common sense.

What if between the beam and the floor of the first floor

there is a tiny gap?

What would happen, then?

A gap?

That's impossible.

I am asking, what if there is?

If there really is one,

fire could go up through the gap from the ground floor too.

But it's pointless to make such an assumption.

Thank you.

Your honour,

I would like to play Defence evidence number 32 now.

The image has been

accepted as an special additional evidence due to unavoidable grounds.

This is the plan of Mr Aso's house, which was burned down in the fire.

It was kept in the architectural firm that designed the house.

Please have a look at this part.

This construction material is called joist.

They were put between the beam and the first floor's floor

as reinforcement.

Joist?

There was a gap.

Because there were joists,

there was a two-centimetre gap between the beam and the floor.

I verified with the contractor and at the scene.

I found the burnt remains of what should've been a joist.

Next, this has been accepted as special additional evidence too.

I would like to question Touo University Physics Department's

assistant professor, Dr Akiu.

First, please have a look at Defence evidence number 33.

In the experiment,

I've reconstructed a part of the burnt two-storey house

in as much detail as possible.

As you can see, fire enters the gap resulting from the joists,

and heated the upper part of the beam.

And this is the condition of the beam after the experiment.

"Beam"

In other words, even if the fire only broke out on the ground floor,

the result would be the same as what the prosecutor showed us?

As you have seen.

Objection.

- What's the point of that? - You mean...

The defence only showed

that even if the fire broke out on the ground floor,

the beam could burn in the same way,

but didn't disprove that the fire broke out on the first floor.

It also didn't prove that the heater on the ground floor caused the fire.

You are right.

Therefore, we did an experiment to prove it.

The heater is the same model as the one found at the scene of fire.

We'll now make it light up automatically.

Why?

When a strong electromagnetic wave of a certain frequency

is picked up by a device nearby,

a heater in this case, it causes the heater to turn on by mistake.

This heater isn't remote controlled,

but if you press the button, the electronic circuit inside

moves and lights the burner.

Therefore, interference by unlicensed radio signals outside

can light it like this.

Unlicensed radio signals? Was anything found near the scene?

The transceiver used in airsoft was found.

On the day of the accident, at the empty factory nearby,

some young people were playing airsoft.

It was unauthorised, that is, the so-called "field airsoft".

Electromagnetic waves emitted by the high output transceiver they used

lit the heater.

Similar happenings were observed in my client's neighbourhood,

but were treated as an anomalous phenomenon.

Yukio's curse?

The house was burned because of Yuki's curse.

Please tell me about Yukio's curse.

It happens at night.

The telly switches on and off by itself.

At the same time when the fire broke out,

some young people were playing airsoft at the empty factory.

I have their testimonies and those given by the witnesses there.

Kurokawa, can I go now?

Thank you, professor.

Prosecution, would you like to do any cross-examination?

You considered only the police's and the prosecutor's investigation,

and didn't take into account all kinds of possibilities.

You used a poor experiment done by an assistant

who is no better than a student, as evidence.

Someone like that can't even call himself a scientist.

It seems the same thing happened before your son died too.

The empty factory that was burned

was still running six months before Yukio passed away.

Lorries that went in and out there also used unlicensed radio signals.

"Christmas 2013"

This is the video tape that Mr Aso managed to bring out from the fire.

Please have a look.

Yes!

This is Yukio's Christmas present!

Do you like it? Are you happy?

Yes, thank you, dad!

It's lovely, isn't it?

Oh? The heater turned on by itself again.

Really?

Why? Is it broken?

All right.

My classmates say things at their home do that sometimes too.

They said the things were haunted or cursed.

That's scary!

But I'm not scared, because you'll protect me, dad.

Mr Aso.

Among the memories of you and Yukio that you forgot yourself...

and risked your life to protect...

there was the evidence that could prove your innocence.

Yukio!

The inadequate investigation and inspection...

done by the police and the public prosecutor...

had caused my client and his wife tremendous mental distress.

Also, it almost ruined the bond...

between my client and his late son, Yukio.

This is unforgivable.

Therefore,

the defence lawyer insists that the accused, Shigeo Aso...

is innocent.

Those guys did whatever they pleased again.

If they lose, we'll have good reason to get rid of him.

What are you reading, Isawa?

It's on the news that Mr Kurokawa reversed the false charge.

It's great advertisement for our office.

Ouch.

Shut up and work.

"Man in Arson Case Found Innocent"

"Defence's evidence is trustworthy"

"Found Innocent"

I cannot thank all of you enough.

Thank you so much for your help.

Don't mention it.

Where are you going to live?

We decided to sell the land and move to the country.

We couldn't let go of the house we lived with our son,

but it's gone too.

I see.

Take care.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

What's the matter?

You seem to be in a bad mood.

If it had been on the news once,

even if he's proved innocent,

people will still criticise him.

That's also why they'll move to another place.

I see...

It's my day off today.

Have a good rest.

See you later.

The loo...

"Taku Kurokawa's home"

Come to think of it,

I've been left out of the loop at the end of this.

Nobody told me about the experiment beforehand too.

Because I asked them to.

We can't let you get in the way.

What do you mean?

Mr Beppu said various things to you, right?

I wasn't going to get in the way of defending...

I doubt it.

All right, I'll go home now.

My beloved son is waiting.

- Ms Kinosaki. - Yes?

Is Mr Kurokawa's father a legal professional?

Why?

The public prosecutor Ibusuki said he had met his father.

Did he?

Your son outwitted me again.

I've read the judicial record.

It's because you cut corners.

I didn't, sir.

"Shin Kurokawa, Deputy Prosecutor-General"

You insisted that the fire broke out from the son's bedroom,

that's why you were defeated.

If you had claimed that he set fire to the ground floor at the start,

judging by the judge's impression,

the man would've been found guilty.

Thank you for your advice.

But sooner or later,

he'll know what reality is.

Instead of proving someone's innocence,

it's much more horrible to let someone go unpunished for his crime.

Mr Kurokawa's father is a public prosecutor?

Yes.

He's the Deputy Prosecutor-General

at the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office.

You're joking!

"Post-war History of False Verdicts"

"Enterprise Sentai Salareader 7,000 yen"

"Overtime Red"

He really is the coolest!

"Buy now"

"Thank you for your purchase"

I bought it!

"This drama is fictitious"

A young man is arrested for robbing a convenience store.

I was going to queue.

Please help Takeo!

I'll investigate thoroughly and defend him.

Can he prove Takeo's innocence?

Another shocking experiment is done.

No doubt, he is innocent.