Asking for a friend
I've always thought that since Smedryakov was the only other person in the house at the time, who was not killed, the murder scene was meant to show how different people can view the same evidence and come to different conclusions. After the trial, Raskolnikov is found guilty, even though Smed privately confessed and even presented the money which he said was his motive. So I think its about how facts and evidence are less important than narrative and how "truth" gets created out of who tells the most compelling story. The judicial system obviously comes in for some pretty heavy satire. Dosty tried pretty hard to make it clear that evidence and prosecutorial zeal had sealed Raskolnikov's fate, despite his ultimate innocence.
It's a reference to L'Etranger and Der Process.
By being a scene in it.
>>9133649
Nice analysis of TBK