Something Fun
A person is on trial for murder in a court room in Oklahoma. There is strong evidence indicating that he is guilty（有罪的）. However, the body is not found.
In the defense’s (辩护方) closing speech, the lawyer, knowing that his client (委托人) is guilty and that it looks like he’ll probably be seriously punished, decided to play a clever trick.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury (陪审团), I have a surprise for you all,” the lawyer says as he looks at his watch. “Within one minute, the person assumed dead in this case will walk into this court room,” he says and he looks towards the court-room door. The jury, somewhat surprised, looks at the door eagerly. A minute passes. Nothing happens.
Finally the lawyer says, “Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all waited with expectation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is a reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you pass a judgment of not guilty.”
The jury, clearly confused, back off to discuss.
A very few minutes later, the jury returned and one of them pronounces a verdict (裁决) of guilty.
“But how?” asks the lawyer in surprise. “You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door.”
Answers the jury member, “Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t.”
【小题1】Why was the person on trial according to the passage?| A．Because he couldn’t pay off the debts. |
| B．Because he probably killed somebody. |
| C．Because he didn’t pay the tax in time. |
| D．Because he planned to cheat the jury. |
| A．To find the body. | B．To frighten the jury. |
| C．To help his client. | D．To save himself. |
| A．The lawyer’s words must be true. |
| B．They expected his family to come in. |
| C．They were surprised and cheated by the lawyer. |
| D．They thought the person on trial was escaping. |
| A．They firmly believed that nobody was killed. |
| B．The behaviour of the client gave him away. |
| C．The jury still needed more evidence to prove it. |
| D．The lawyer’s words were worth thinking about. |
