VOA标准英语2009年-Judge Accepts Mumbai Gunman's Confession,

Days after a Pakistani gunman captured in last year's terror strikes in Mumbai made a dramatic confession¹ in an Indian court, a judge has ordered his trial to continue - despite his admission of guilt². The suspect is one of the extremists who mounted terror strikes in India's financial hub last year, killing³ 166 people.
　
26 Nov 2008 file photo shows gunman identified by police as Ajmal Kasab walking through Chatrapathi Sivaji Terminal railway station in Mumbai

Judge M.L. Tahiliyani said Thursday he will accept the detailed⁴ confession made by 21-year-old Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, regarding his role in last year's terror attacks in Mumbai.

However, the judge told the prosecution⁵ to continue lining⁶ up witnesses to testify against Kasab, saying his trial will continue.

Earlier this week, Kasab took lawyers by surprise when he changed his plea to guilty and admitted that he sprayed gunfire at Mumbai's main train station after arriving in the city from Pakistan with other nine other gunmen. Kasab was the only one captured alive.

The defense⁷ had said that, if the plea was accepted, the trial should end and a sentence delivered.

But Public Prosecutor⁸ Ujjwal Nikam says the judge has called Kasab's confession only a partial admission of guilt, and says the suspect has not admitted to all 86 charges against him. These include murder and waging war against India.

"The statement of Kasab admitting his guilt can be used at an appropriate stage. In fact, the court has also noted⁹ that Kasab did not admit all the charges, but he has admitted partly, and court has further ordered that Kasab's plea of admission of guilt - that can be considered only when the prosecution completes its case," said Nikam.

There was more drama in court Thursday, when the defense lawyer said he did not want to continue, because his client had no faith in him. Kasab had caught his lawyer by surprise when confessed in court. The judge has asked them to sort out their differences.

Kasab has told the court he pled guilty because he would rather be hanged in this world than face God's punishment in the next. He has said he did not want mercy from the court and that he understands the implications of his confession.

The prosecution had argued that Kasab changed his plea from innocent to guilty to secure a more-lenient sentence.

The capture of Kasab and Islamabad's admission that he was a Pakistani citizen has helped India bolster¹⁰ its case that the attacks were planned and executed by a terror group based in Pakistan.

1 confession   

n.自白，供认，承认

参考例句：

• Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
• The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

2 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

3 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。

4 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

5 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。

6 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

7 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。

8 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。