It's Interesting to Know

Curious Wills

• When Margaret Montgomery of Chicago died in 1959, she left her five cats and a $15,000 trust fund for their care to a former employee, William

Fields. The will stipulated that Fields was to use the trust income solely for the cats' care and feeding, including such delicacies as pot roast meat If, however, he outlived all the cats, Fields would inherit the trust principal Nine years later the last cat, Fat Nose, died at 20, and Fields, 79, was $15,000 richer.

• Charles Vance Millar, a Canadian lawyer and financier who died a bachelor in 1926, bequeathed the bulk of his fortune to whichever Toronto women gave birth to the largest number of children in the 10 years after his death. Four women eventually tied in the 'stork derby' that followed the publication of his wilL Each had 9 children_t and they shared between them $750,000. A fifth woman who had 10 children was ruled out because 5 were illegitimate.

• One of the world's shortest wills was left by an Englishman named Dickens. Contested in 1906 but upheld by the courts, it read simply: "All for mother".

• A 19^ft-century London tavernkeeper left his property to his wife — on the condition that every year, on the anniversary of his death, she would walk barefoot to the local market, hold up a lighted candle, and confess aloud how she had nagged him. The theme of the confession was that if her tongue had been shorter, her husband's days would have been longer If she failed to keep the appointment, she was to receive no more than 20 pounds a year, just enough to live on. Whether the wife decided to take the bigger bequest or spare herself humiliation is not known.

Chapter IV. Fair Trial: the Jury 13?

~ ~ UNIT 6, STEPS OF THE TRIAL

TASK 1. Read the following text and write doiim Russian equivalents for the words and expressions in bold type:

What Happens During the Trial

Events in a trial usually happen in a particular order, though the order may be changed by the judge. The usual order of events is set out below.

Step 1. Selection of the Jury.

Step 2. Opening Statements. The lawyers for each side will discuss their views of the case that you are to hear and will aJsn present a general picture of what they intend to prove about the case. What the lawyers say in their opening statements is not evidence and, therefore, does not help prove their cases.

Step 3. Presentation of Evidence. All parties are entitled to present evidence. The testimony of witnesses who testify at trial is evidence. Evidence may also take the form of physical exhibits, such as a gun or a photograph. On occasion, the written testimony of people not able to attend the trial may also be evidence in the cases you will hear.

Many things you will see and hear during the trial are not evidence. For example, what the lawyers say in their opening and closing statements is not evidence. Physical exhibits offered by the lawyers, but not admitted by the judge, are also to be disregarded, as'is testimony that the judge orders stricken off the record.

Many times during the trial the lawyers may make objections to evidence presented by the other side or to questions asked by the other lawyer. Lawyers are allowed to object to these things when they consider them improper under the laws of evidence. It is up to the judge to decide whether each objection was valid or invalid, and whether, therefore, the evidence can be admitted or the question allowed. If the objection was valid, the judge will sustain the objection. If the objection was not valid, the judge will overrule the objection. These rulings do not reflect the judge's opinion of the case or whether the judge favours or does not favour the evidence or the question to which there has been an objection.

It is your duty as a juror to decide the weight or importance of evidence or testimony allowed by the judge- You are also the sole judge of the credibility of witnesses, that is, of whether their testimony is believable. In considering credibility, you may take into

138 ^^us* English. Английский для юристов

a ccount the witnesses' opportunity and ability to observe the events about which they are testifying, their memory and manner while testifying, the reasonableness of their testimony when considered in the light of all the other evidence in the case, their possible Mas or prejudice, and any other factors that bear on the bettevability of the testimony or on the importance to be given that testimony.

Step 4. The Instructions. Following presentation of all the evidence, the judge instructs the jury on the laws that are to guide the jury in their deliberations on a verdict. A copy of the instructions will be sent to the jury room for the use of jurors during their deliberations. All documents or physical objects that have been received into evidence will also be sent to the jury room.

Step 5. Closing Arguments. The lawyers in the closing arguments summarize the case from their point of view. They may discuss the evidence that has been presented or comment on the credibility of witnesses. The lawyers may also discuss any of the judge's instructions that they feel are of special importance to their case. These arguments are not evidence.

Step 6. Jury Deliberation. The jury retires to the jury room to conduct the deliberations on the verdict in the case they have just heard. The jury first elects a foreman who will see to it that discussion is conducted in a sensible and orderly fashion, that all issues are fully and fairly discussed, and that every juror is given a fair chance to participate.

When a verdict has been reached, the foreman signs it and informs the bailiff. The jury returns to the courtroom, where the foreman presents the verdict The judge then discharges the jury from the case.

TASK Z\ Find in the text above the English equivalents for the following words and expressions:

1. вступительная речь

2. заключительная речь

3. надёжность свидетеля

* 4, зачитать вердикт ■

5. правомерный протест

6. принять, поддержать протест

7. вычеркнуть из протокола

8. удалиться в комнату для совещаний присяжных

9. совещание присяжных

Chapter IV. Fair Trial: the Jury

10. с таршина присяжных

11. свидетельские показания

12. отклонить протест

TASK 3. Answer the following questions:

1. What are the steps of a trial?

2. What can be considered evidence?

3. What is a physical exhibits

4. What are objections'?

5. When can objections be made?

6- Who can sustain or overrule an objection?

7. What does the judge say in the instructions'?

8. Who presents closing arguments'!

9. What happens during jury deliberations?

TASK 4. Render the following text into English paying special attention to the words and expressions given in bold type:

Прения сторон

Прежде чем исследованные в предшествующей стадии су­дебного разбирательства материалы дела будут анализироваться в совещании присяжных, они обсуждаются в процессе судеб­ных прений, где государственный обвинитель и защитник^ ис­пользуя профессиональные знания и навыки, восстанавливают связь между доказательствами, позволял судьям от общества сделать свободный выбор между обвинением и оправданием под­судимого.

Позиции обвинения и защиты в суде присяжных строятся не только на основе принципа состязательности, но ж на основе принципа презумпции невиновности: невиновность подсудимого предполагается, а виновность доказывается обвинителем.

Судья вправе прервать речь, возражение или замечание стороны, если в них содержатся:

л сведения, не имеющие прямого отношения к делу;

• обстоятельства, оскорбительные для чьей-либо чести и достоинства;

в данные, не проверенные в ходе судебного следствия; « ссылки на исключенные из дела доказательства;

* сведения о прежней судимости обвиняемого;

140 Just English, Английский для юристов

• иные обстоятельства, влияющие на объективность при­ сяжных.

Судья в своем напутственном слове объясняет присяжным заседателям, что при вынесении вердикта они должны;

» руководствоваться здравым смыслом;

э руководствоваться принципом презумпции невиновнос­ти, согласно которому подсудимым не обязан доказывать свою невиновность: бремя доказывания вины подсуди­мого лежит на государственном обвинителе;

« оценивать исследованные в суде доказательства (показа­ния подсудимого, потерпевшего, свидетелей, заключения экспертов и др,) в их совокупности, согласовывая их одно с другим;

« не принимать во внимание доказательства, вычеркнутые из протокола;

• не воспринимать как доказательства доводы, прозвучав­ шие в речах сторон.

TASK 5. Translate the following text into Russian: