Unit 13

Ex. 162. Read the text and divide it into several parts. Find the sentences in which Passive construction is used.

Witness

A witness is someone who has first-hand knowledge about a crime or dramatic event through their senses (e.g. seeing, hearing, smelling, touching) and can help certify important considerations to the crime or event. A witness who has seen the event first-hand is known as an eye-witness. Witnesses are often called before a court of law to testify in trials. A subpoena commands a person to appear. In many jurisdictions it is compulsory to comply, to take an oath, and tell the truth, under penalty of perjury. It is used to compel the testimony of witnesses in a trial. Usually it can be issued by a judge or by the lawyer representing the plaintiff or the defendant in a civil trial or by the prosecutor or the defense attorney in a criminal proceeding. Witness testimony is often presumed to be better than circumstantial evidence. If several witnesses witness a crime it is probative to look for similarities in their collective descriptions to substantiate the facts of an event, keeping in mind the contrasts of individual descriptions.

A witness who specializes in an area of study relevant to the crime is called an expert witness. Scientists and doctors are often called to give expert witness testimony.

Today all persons are presumed to be qualified to serve as witnesses in trials and other legal proceedings, and all persons are also presumed to have a legal obligation to serve as witnesses if their testimony is sought. However, legal rules sometimes exempt people from the obligation to give evidence and legal rules disqualify people from serving as witnesses under some circumstances. Privilege rules give the holder of the privilege a right to prevent a witness from giving testimony. These privileges are ordinarily (but not always) designed to protect socially valued types of confidential communications. Some of the privileges that are often recognized are the marital secrets privilege, the adverse spousal testimony privilege, the attorney-client privilege, the doctor-patient privilege, the psychotherapist-patient and counselor-patient privilege, and the clergy-penitent privilege.

Ex. 163. Translate the expressions.

• witness

• certify

• first-hand

• subpoena

• compulsory

• to comply

• to take an oath

• under penalty of perjury

• to compel the testimony

• to presume

• circumstantial evidence

• to substantiate the facts of an event

• similarity

• to exempt from

• under some circumstances

• to give testimony

Ex. 164. Make up the sentences using the pattern.

A witness who has seen the event first-hand is known as an eye-witness.

The White House “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Lake Ontario Marlboro™ The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) Aesop’s Fables Robert Adam Tabloid Sing Sing

is known as are known as

a collection of short stories about animals which behave in a human way. Each story teaches a moral lesson. a college in central London, England, for training professional actors. a newspaper with pages that are half the size of those of larger newspapers (called broadsheets). a Scottish architect who started a new neoclassical style. a US prison in the state of New York for the most dangerous criminals. one of the most popular and heavily advertised US cigarettes. the best-known play (1962) by the US writer Edward Albee. the home and office of the US President. the smallest and most eastern of the Great Lakes.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Ex. 165. Find and translate the words.

MYTONESIT RUJEPYR GIVELIPER NOSEPUAB NOGABITOIL TPENINET YETPLAN VINECEDE SUPTRECOOR TRAMAIL

Ex. 166. Use the proper prepositions.

A witness is someone who has first-hand knowledge …………… a crime or dramatic event ……………. their senses. Witnesses are often called …………… a court of law to testify ……………. trials. A subpoena commands a person to appear. In many jurisdictions it is compulsory to comply, to take an oath, and tell the truth, ………………. penalty of perjury. It is used to compel the testimony …………… witnesses in a trial. Witness testimony is often presumed to be better than circumstantial evidence.

A witness who specializes ……………. an area of study relevant to the crime is called an expert witness. Scientists and doctors are often called to give expert witness testimony.

Today all persons are presumed to be qualified to serve as witnesses …………… trials and other legal proceedings. However, legal rules sometimes exempt people ……………. the obligation to give evidence and legal rules disqualify people ……………… serving as witnesses ……………. some circumstances.

Ex. 167. Give the adequate translation of the sentences. Pay attention to the underlined words.

1. The President visited the area to see the devastations first-hand. 2. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the boy’s death. 3. The word subpoena came from Latin sub poena – the first words of the writ which mean under penalty. 4. There are several witnesses who will testify for the defence. 5. Before giving evidence, witnesses in court have to take the oath (= promise to tell the truth). 6. It should be ascertained that the plans comply with the law. 7. The penalty for travelling without a ticket is £200. 8. Failure to comply with regulations will result in prosecution. 9. The judge reminded the witness that he was still under oath. 10. It is compulsory for all motorcyclists to wear helmets. 11. She refused to testify against her husband. 12. The company reserves the right to cancel this agreement in certain circumstances. 13. There was not enough evidence to start a trial. 14. I don’t think you are telling me the whole truth about what happened. 15. The results of the tests substantiated his claims. 16. There is some similarity in the way they sing.

Ex. 168. Fill in the crossword.

	1	2						3
4										5
					6
			7
		8						9
	10

►across keys: 1. a formal written or spoken statement saying what you know to be true, usually in court 7. an illegal act or activity that can be punished by law 10. the person in a trial who is accused of committing a crime, or who is being sued by another person

▼down keys: 2. A witness is someone who has first-hand knowledge about a crime or dramatic ………… through their senses 3. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children 4. a special right or advantage that a particular person or group of people has 5. a feeling of being sorry because you have done sth wrong 6. a formal examination of evidence in court by a judge and often a jury, to decide if sb accused of a crime is guilty or not 8. all persons are presumed to be qualified to serve as witnesses in trials 9. European Court of …………………Rights

Ex. 169. Translate the sentences.

1. Преступник смог избежать наказания благодаря тому, что свидетели "вовремя" поменяли показания или скоропостижно скончались. 2. "Президент готов свидетельствовать в суде, если будет принято такое решение суда", - отметил адвокат. 3. 25 июля возбуждено уголовное дело в отношении майора N. за лжесвидетельство. 4. Пока Шварценеггер произносил клятву, супруга бережно поддерживала его под левую руку, которую он держал на Библии. 5. Непосредственных свидетелей наезда не нашлось, по крайней мере, в момент проведения съёмки. 6. Как следует из сообщения, молодой человек погиб при странных обстоятельствах. 7. Все ограничивается случайными свидетельствами и предположениями, которые зачастую противоречат друг другу. 8. В Милане при загадочных обстоятельствах пропал 70-летний банкир Джанмарио Ровераро (Gianmario Roveraro).

Ex. 170. Translate the article.