2006年VOA标准英语-Man Who Shot Pope to be Released Tuesday

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
09 January 2006

Mehmet Ali Agca (2000 file photo)   
  
The lawyer for the Turkish man who tried to kill Pope John Paul II in 1981, says his client is to be released Tuesday from a Turkish prison. Mehmet Ali Agca had been held in Italy until he was extradited to Turkey in 2000.

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The man who shocked the world when he shot Pope John Paul II in broad daylight in Saint Peter's Square nearly 25 years ago will be allowed to leave an Istanbul prison. His lawyer says he will be released on parole Tuesday.

Lawyer Mustafa Demirbag said Agca will go directly to a military post to begin military service, as required by Turkish law, after being released from jail. The length of his service is yet to be determined¹.

Mehmet Ali Agca is now 47 years old. He was just 23 when he tried to kill the pope. Pope John Paul was waving at the crowds from his open-topped car when he was hit by several gunshots. The gunman was arrested moments after the shooting.

The pope was rushed to a hospital where he underwent surgery for wounds to his abdomen², left hand and right arm. He survived because no vital organ had been hit.

A trial was held in Rome under the eyes of the world, but it failed to reveal the true motive³ for the attempt on the pope's life and whether Agca acted alone or with others. The mystery lives on to this day.

Two years after the incident, Pope John Paul personally pardoned the Turkish gunman during a private meeting with him in a Rome prison. The Italian authorities pardoned him many years later and extradited him to Turkey in 2000.

At the Vatican Monday the news was received with little reaction.

Spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls said the Vatican learned of the plans to free Agca from news reports and had not received any information prior to the announcement. He added that judicial⁴ authorities are dealing⁵ with the matter and the Vatican supports the decisions that are taken by the courts involved.

Observers are hoping that with the release of Agca, new information will emerge on what prompted the assassination⁶ attempt. But one Italian magistrate⁷ said Agca will have to be careful and warned that his life may be at risk because of the secrets he carries with him.

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 abdomen   

n.腹，下腹(胸部到腿部的部分)

参考例句：

• How to know to there is ascarid inside abdomen?怎样知道肚子里面有蛔虫？
• He was anxious about an off-and-on pain the abdomen.他因时隐时现的腹痛而焦虑。

3 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

4 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

7 magistrate   

n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官

参考例句：

• The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
• John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。