Leinen Becomes a Defense Lawyer
The Collini CaseCaspar Leinen’s first murder brief tests his ideals, personal loyalties, and ability to defend a client whose case implicates people he loves.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
The New Chambers

The New Chambers
A deliberate beginning
Caspar Leinen has recently qualified and opened a small practice rather than joining a prestigious commercial firm. He wants to appear in court and defend people directly.
The first call
A weekend legal-aid call gives him a murder brief almost immediately. His idealized profession arrives not as an abstraction, but as responsibility for a real accused man.
The Family Connection

The Family Connection
Recognition
Leinen learns that the victim is Hans Meyer, the grandfather who had welcomed him into Rossthal and shaped his childhood. The murder therefore strikes at his memories as well as his legal judgment.
A choice of duty
He drafts a request to withdraw, believing his connection makes the defense impossible. Richard Mattinger challenges him to disclose that connection to Collini and let the client decide.
Choosing the Brief

Choosing the Brief
Client before sentiment
Collini dismisses Leinen’s relationship with the Meyers and says he is not interested in the family. His refusal does not release the lawyer from his professional obligation.
Acceptance
Leinen decides to continue, despite being unable to bear the thought of defending his friend’s killer. He begins to understand that the defense belongs to the accused, not to the lawyer’s private loyalties.
Finding the Archive

Finding the Archive
A narrow clue
A familiar pistol in the crime photographs reminds Leinen of his father’s guns. The detail redirects him from the immediate killing toward archival records about the past.
Independent investigation
He travels to Ludwigsburg and works through files until the relationship between Collini and Meyer becomes legible. The young lawyer’s case turns on patient research rather than courtroom bravado.
The Defense Completed

The Defense Completed
A public argument
Leinen confronts the official story of Meyer’s unprosecuted wartime actions and exposes why the investigation ended. His defense makes the legal history visible to the court.
A changed lawyer
Collini’s suicide prevents a verdict, but Leinen has fulfilled his duty and challenged the assumptions surrounding the case. Mattinger recognizes his ability and offers him a partnership.
Forty-two days after qualifying
The first days after the arrest
After Leinen’s first prison interview
During the adjournment in the trial
The final scheduled trial day