Crime and punishment – B1+ English Vocabulary

When the police know or strongly believe that someone has committed a crime, they 1 arrest this person. This means that they capture them and take them into custody. Once the 2 suspect, or the person under investigation, has been arrested, the authorities often 3 interrogate them intensively, questioning them to gather crucial information about the alleged crime. This questioning process is an essential step in building a case.

After that, there is a 4 trial, a formal examination conducted in a building called a 5 court to determine if the individual committed the crime. During the trial, the police formally 6 charge the accused, accusing them of committing a specific illegal act. The accused individual has the opportunity to present their side of the story, and it is in the courtroom that the 7 evidence comes into play. Evidence includes acts or information that can help prove or disprove the allegations.

Ultimately, the 8 verdict is reached, a decision made by a 9 jury, a group of impartial individuals from the public chosen to deliver a judgment. If the jury declares the accused 10 guilty, it means they have committed the crime in question. However, if the accused is 11 acquitted, they are formally declared not guilty and set free.

Evidence in criminal cases can take various forms, including physical evidence like 12 fingerprint marks left by a person’s fingers at the crime scene. The authorities may also require a 13 search warrant, an official document that grants permission to search private property for potential evidence. Another crucial element in criminal cases is the 14 alibi, evidence that proves the accused was elsewhere when the crime occurred.

Representing the accused or the prosecution (the accusing party) are 15 lawyers or attorneys, legal experts who argue their respective cases. The 16 judge, the presiding officer in the courtroom, makes decisions based on the law, ensuring fair proceedings.

Each of these components plays a significant role in determining the 17 sentence: the punishment imposed on those found guilty of committing a crime. During the trial, the 18 defendant is the person accused of committing the crime, a 19 witness is a person who saw the crime occur, and a 20 victim is a person has suffered harm due to a criminal act.