VOA标准英语2008年-6 Guilty in Australia's Biggest Terrorism Trial

Jurors in Australia's biggest terrorism trial found six Muslim men guilty of being members of an extremist group that plotted to wage what prosecutors¹ called "violent jihad" in the city of Melbourne. Four other men have been acquitted² of related charges. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

The jury found Abdul Nacer Benbrika, a Muslim cleric, guilty of planning to stage a violent religious war in Melbourne three years ago. Five of his followers³ were convicted of forming a terrorist organization.

The court was told that Benbrika's group had planned to attack a high-profile Australian-rules football match in Melbourne that attracted almost 100,000 fans. The prosecution⁴ also said the men had discussed killing⁵ the former Australian prime minister, John Howard, and identified railway stations as possible targets.

The cleric allegedly told his supporters that it was permissible⁶ to kill women, children and the elderly.

Prosecutors said the plot was aimed at forcing the Australian government to pull its troops out of Iraq. The case against the suspects relied heavily on telephone conversations that were intercepted⁷ by the authorities.

The defendants⁸ denied the charges but were found guilty after the jury had deliberated for four weeks. All face life in prison and they will be sentenced later. An appeal is likely.

Defense⁹ lawyers said it was the suspects' bravado¹⁰ that led them to discuss violent attacks but insisted they had no ability to carry them out.

Benbrika's lawyer Remy Van de Weil says the trial has taken its toll¹¹ on his client.

"He has been, I think, very stressed throughout these entire proceedings," said Van de Weil. ."I'll speak to him in the next day or so and he can let me know what he wants to do."

Four other men were found not guilty of terrorism charges, among them 23-year-old Majed Raad. His lawyer, Gerard Mullally, is happy with the verdict.

"I'm glad for Majed Raad that the ordeal¹² is over and that he can now go home and resume his life,. he said. "

The jury is still considering verdicts on two more defendants.

The judge has warned jurors not to let any prejudice they may hold towards Muslims cloud their judgment¹³ when deciding the case.

Australia has never suffered a terrorist attack and the government lists current threat levels as "medium."

1 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

2 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。

3 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

4 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 permissible   

adj.可允许的，许可的

参考例句：

• Is smoking permissible in the theatre?在剧院里允许吸烟吗？
• Delay is not permissible,even for a single day.不得延误，即使一日亦不可。

7 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

8 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 bravado   

n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能

参考例句：

• Their behaviour was just sheer bravado. 他们的行为完全是虚张声势。
• He flourished the weapon in an attempt at bravado. 他挥舞武器意在虚张声势。

11 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

12 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。

13 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。