Episode 13 of "Judge from Hell" kicks off with Seonho confined within the bars of a prison cell, but his plight worsens swiftly as he's assaulted by a fellow inmate, who delivers a vicious stab to his neck. This brutal act, undoubtedly orchestrated by Taegyu, serves as a silent but potent threat to silence Seonho. Meanwhile, this dramatic turn unfolds during the conversation between Bael and Bitna that concluded the previous episode, casting a shadow over the impending trial. With Seonho incapacitated and unable to testify, the case is poised to collapse, prompting Bitna to make a crucial decision: postponing the trial by two days.
Taegyu's cunning is evident in the sly grin and knowing nod he exchanges with Daon as he's escorted out of the courtroom, revealing his hand in this treacherous scheme. Adding insult to injury, there's an eerie absence of video footage that could corroborate Seonho's claims of his mother's abuse, further stacking the deck against him.
When Daon visits Seonho, he's visibly shaken and resolute in his refusal to testify. Sensing the urgency for drastic measures, Bitna confronts Taegyu, laying out the damning evidence against him and proposing a bold trade: in exchange for his freedom, she demands that he carry out a murder for her and procure the kylum, a move that would allow her to thwart Satan's immortality plot with a twist of her own devising. Her proposition sounds like a piece of cake—if only Taegyu were to bite.
However, this is merely a clever trap set by Bitna, aiming to ensnare Taegyu in her web of deceit. He's not fooled initially, but the outcome of the trial remains a wildcard that might sway his decision in the future.
As the trial unfolds, Bitna dives into a series of probing inquiries, each one more challenging than the last. Taegyu, however, dismisses them all with a casual shrug, disregarding the incriminating evidence stacked against him. His lawyer, on the other hand, shifts the blame onto Seonho. Defiantly, Seonho steps into the courtroom and decides to testify, revealing startling truths about Soyeong's fate and his own role in her demise.
In his testimony, Seonho recounts stabbing Soyeong in the shoulder as she prepared to apprehend Taegyu, driven by fear that he might be arrested alongside his brother. Additionally, he confesses to assaulting the woman in the alley, an act orchestrated by Taegyu to evict villa residents through intimidation. Seonho also witnessed the murder of Myeongsook's son and, haunted by guilt, returned to the scene carrying a white rose but fled before she could apprehend him, mistaking him for the killer.
Unfortunately, without concrete evidence, the prosecution capitalizes on Seonho's fragile mental state and his troubled past with drugs. Fortunately, Daon and his fellow officers unearth multiple tapes and a camcorder concealed in a hidden basement room, presenting them to Judge Bitna, who confronts Taegyu with the evidence in court.
Taegyu remains unrepentant, berating the victims for their plight and justifying his actions as a mission to "liberate people." He admits to deriving pleasure from killing and growing desensitized to it over time. His testimony is harrowing to hear, particularly after Daon's emotional testimony, recalling the brutal murder of his mother as a child. Despite the defendant's lawyer's interruptions, Daon is allowed to complete his plea.
Later, Gabriel joins Bitna for burgers, where she admits her turmoil over the Taegyu case. Gabriel urges her to release Taegyu and eliminate him, warning that failure to do so could result in her own death. However, this raises the question of justice for the countless victims of J's killing spree. The weight of this responsibility rests heavily on Bitna's shoulders.
Much of her concern stems from Daon, fearing his resentment if she makes the wrong decision. She secures a promise from Daon not to harbor hate or resentment towards her, regardless of her verdict. He replies with trust in her judgment.
The sentencing proceeding unfolds, with Bitna adeptly summarizing the intricacies of the case that has unraveled thus far. However, a crucial twist emerges: the statute of limitations expired in 2014, rendering Taegyu's confessed murders inadmissible as evidence in this particular trial. Consequently, Bitna's judgment hinges solely on the tragic demise of Soyeong. After hearing the testimonies of the aggrieved, Bitna renders her verdict with resolve—death for Taegyu. Her ruling stands as a testament to justice, reinforcing trust in the judicial system, albeit at the peril of her own life. As she turns away, the effort to suppress her tears evident, the victims exhale in collective relief, justice having finally been served—or so it seems for them.
Among the legal fraternity, however, Bitna's decision evokes dissatisfaction. Critics accuse her of harshness, recklessness, and a lack of judicial prudence. Meanwhile, Seonho faces a fifteen-year incarceration, accompanied by a mandatory drug rehabilitation program under custody. On his departure, he slips a note to Bitna, urging her to inspect his safe.
Bitna's ruling ripples through the courthouse, prompting Na to embrace his role as a whistleblower, exposing the Assemblyman's underhand dealings with lawyers for favorable verdicts. Job security be damned, Na is poised to become a YouTube sensation.
Myeongsook, desperate for closure, finds it not in Taegyu's confession but in an unexpected quarter—Seonho. In a heartfelt letter addressed to her, he reveals he has been carrying a card from Yechan to his mother, accompanied by a tube of hand lotion and a pledge to care for her. It's a poignant gesture, but Taegyu too receives a letter, containing an escape route cleverly concealed within a book. This coincidence aligns with the discovery of Seonho hanging in his cell, prompting Bitna to seek permission to visit him.
That afternoon, Bitna shares a poignant conversation with Daon, acknowledging the impending necessity of their separation. As they hold hands, she confesses that he is her sole vulnerability. They profess their love and share a tender kiss atop the bridge, bidding each other farewell, believing it to be their last encounter. Daon, however, views it as the dawn rather than the dusk of their burgeoning romance.
Realizing Bitna's words that evening, Daon rushes to the park. Alas, he arrives too late; Bitna lies bleeding on the ground, a victim of Bael's henchman. Despite the doctors' valiant efforts, her condition remains critical. Gabriel's warning—that their union would lead to one's demise—now seems to have been fulfilled.
As Bitna's life signs fade, Daon is left stunned and heart-wrenchingly bereft.
