Crime & Punishment
DR FINGERS’ VOCABULARY CLINIC
Our monthly look at interesting words and expressions.
DR FINGERS’ VOCABULARY CLINIC
This month we’re looking at some words you can use to talk about crime and punishment.
Suspect
SOMEONE WHO
THE POLICE
BELIEVE MAY
HAVE COMMITTED
A CRIME.
“He was the prime
suspect in the
murder inquiry.”Witness
SOMEONE WHO
HAS SEEN A CRIME.
“Police are calling
for witnesses to the
bank robbery.”Trial
A FORMAL MEETING
IN A COURT OF
LAW. THE JUDGE
AND JURY LISTEN
TO EVIDENCE AND
DECIDE WHETHER
A PERSON IS
INNOCENT OR
GUILTY OF A CRIME.
“The trial lasted for
sixteen days.”Court
A PLACE WHERE LEGAL
MATTERS ARE DECIDED
BY A JUDGE AND JURY.
“She was in court for
armed robbery.”Guilty
IF SOMEONE IS “GUILTY” OF A CRIME, THEY HAVE
COMMITTED THAT CRIME – THEY AREN’T INNOCENT.
“She was declared guilty and sentenced to six months in
prison.”Judge
A PERSON WHOSE
JOB IS TO DECIDE
HOW THE LAW
SHOULD BE
APPLIED AND HOW
THE CONVICTED
PERSON SHOULD BE
PUNISHED.
“The judge jailed the
man for life.”Jury
THE 12 PEOPLE
IN A COURT
CASE WHO
DECIDE
WHETHER
SOMEONE IS
INNOCENT OR
GUILTY.
“The jury returned
a verdict of not-
guilty.”Verdict
THE DECISION THAT IS GIVEN BY THE JUDGE OR JURY
AT THE END OF A TRIAL.
“The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.”Appeal
A FORMAL
REQUEST
FOR A
LEGAL
DECISION
TO BE
CHANGED.
“Her appeal
against the
sentence was
unsuccessful.”Contraband
GOODS THAT
HAVE BEEN
IMPORTED OR
EXPORTED
ILLEGALLY.
“The ship
was found to
be carrying
contraband
goods, mostly
drugs.”AUDIO32 / http://www.learnhotenglish.com / Want to do an internship with Hot English? For more information, e-mail [email protected]