2007年VOA标准英语-Judge in Kenya Re-Opens Case of Deceased Americ

By Caroline Sawyer
Nairobi
10 August 2007

In an unusual move, a judge in Kenya has reopened a case that Kenyan authorities and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation¹ concluded was likely a suicide seven years ago. The case involves an American priest who died under mysterious circumstances. As Caroline Sawyer reports from Nairobi, two men with links to a former Kenyan member of parliament have now been named as suspects in the priest's murder.

American-born priest John Kaiser had been working in Kenya for 35 years when he was found dead on the side of a road outside the capital, Nairobi, in August 2000. Police said he had died of a bullet wound in the head.

In a subsequent report, Kenyan police and the FBI reported that Kaiser suffered from depression and had probably shot himself. They cautioned that their analysis should not be considered conclusive².

FBI Spokesperson Stephen Kodak tells VOA that the federal bureau was asked by Kenyan authorities to assist in the initial investigation of Father Kaiser's death, but that they had to work within the constraints³ of the country's police system.

Kodak says the FBI was not involved in a subsequent inquiry⁴ to confirm a conclusion of suicide, which took four years to complete. "It is unfortunate that our investigative and forensic⁵ experts were not afforded the opportunity to testify in support of that investigation in the recent court proceedings⁶."

In Kenya, a judge must conduct an independent inquiry before suicide can be confirmed as a cause of death.

In early August, Judge Maureen Odera , after sifting⁷ through the initial investigation, decided⁸ to re-open the case, and she ruled that Father Kaiser had been murdered.

Kenyan lawyer, Mbuthi Gathenji, represents the priest's family and the Mill Hill Missionaries⁹ where Kaiser worked. He says Odera's ruling was worth the wait. "It is a remarkable¹⁰ decision in that suicide was removed. She identified suspects who should be investigated further. She also indicated the weaknesses in the evidence of the police, so she has shown the way forward," he said.

In re-opening the case, Judge Odera named the brother-in-law of a former member of parliament and his close friend, a game ranger¹¹, as suspects in the murder. The men have not been charged and apparently¹² do not have lawyers at this time. The police will now open a new investigation into the case.

The judge did not link Julius Sunkuri, the former MP , to the priest's death. But she did say there were serious omissions¹³ in the initial police investigation.

The lawyer for the priest's family, Mbuthi Gathenji, says that on the day that Kaiser died, a young girl who was being helped by the priest to bring charges of rape¹⁴ against Sunkuri, suddenly withdrew her accusations¹⁵. Sunkuri represented Kilgoris district, home to the Masaai Mara, one of the most famous wildlife reserves in the world.

Gathenji says no one should be exonerated¹⁶ until all the evidence is in and a proper trial is held. "When an investigation is ordered, I would personally feel that all inclusive should be investigated. Further evidence may reveal more information (than was) made available in the inquest," he said.

The former MP, Julius Sunkuri, has stated an interest in running for a seat in local government when the country holds general elections later this year.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 conclusive   

adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的

参考例句：

• They produced some fairly conclusive evidence.他们提供了一些相当确凿的证据。
• Franklin did not believe that the French tests were conclusive.富兰克林不相信这个法国人的实验是结论性的。

3 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

4 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

5 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

6 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

7 sifting   

n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审

参考例句：

• He lay on the beach, sifting the sand through his fingers. 他躺在沙滩上用手筛砂子玩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I was sifting the cinders when she came in. 她进来时，我正在筛煤渣。 来自辞典例句

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 missionaries   

n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some missionaries came from England in the Qing Dynasty. 清朝时，从英国来了一些传教士。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The missionaries rebuked the natives for worshipping images. 传教士指责当地人崇拜偶像。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

11 ranger   

n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员

参考例句：

• He was the head ranger of the national park.他曾是国家公园的首席看守员。
• He loved working as a ranger.他喜欢做护林人。

12 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

13 omissions   

n.省略( omission的名词复数 )；删节；遗漏；略去或漏掉的事（或人）

参考例句：

• In spite of careful checking, there are still omissions. 饶这么细心核对，还是有遗漏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• It has many omissions; even so, it is quite a useful reference book. 那本书有许多遗漏之处，即使如此，尚不失为一本有用的参考书。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

15 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

16 exonerated   

v.使免罪，免除( exonerate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The police report exonerated Lewis from all charges of corruption. 警方的报告免除了对刘易斯贪污的所有指控。
• An investigation exonerated the school from any blame. 一项调查证明该学校没有任何过失。 来自辞典例句