新西兰英语 495 Police drop charges against Tuhoe

 　　In October 2007, 17 people were arrested on Tuhoe land in the Urewera district in the North Island. These people all belong to the Maori iwi Tuhoe or are supporters of the Tuhoe. The police believed they were training for terrorist activities against New Zealand. The Tuhoe have always said that they did not sign the Treaty of Waitangi and they did not agree to give up their land. They say they live in an independent state, not in New Zealand.

　　The 17 people arrested have been on bail¹ since then, waiting for a trial. For many reasons, the trial was delayed. Now the police have dropped charges against 13 of those people which means there will be no trial. The reason is that the Chief Justice, Sian Elias, ruled that the police used hidden cameras to get evidence and this was illegal. Also, these cameras were on private land – Tuhoe land – and it was against the New Zealand Bill of Rights to trespass² on private land.

　　However, the police did not drop charges against the other four people. They are charged with more serious crimes like planning murder, arson³ and kidnapping. Because these are serious crimes, the evidence from hidden cameras can be used. Their trial will begin in February next year.

　　Vocabulary

　　charges – accused of a particular crime e.g. having a gun but no gun licence

　　on bail – not in prison; usually someone has to pay bail money to make sure they do not run away

　　Chief Justice – the number 1 judge of the Supreme⁴ Court

　　evidence – proof e.g. fingerprints, photos

　　trespass – going into private property without permission

　　arson – deliberately setting fire to a building or land

1 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

2 trespass   

n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地

参考例句：

• The fishing boat was seized for its trespass into restricted waters.渔船因非法侵入受限制水域而被扣押。
• The court sentenced him to a fine for trespass.法庭以侵害罪对他判以罚款。

3 arson   

n.纵火，放火

参考例句：

• He was serving a ten spot for arson.他因纵火罪在服十年徒刑。
• He was arraigned on a charge of arson.他因被指控犯纵火罪而被传讯。

4 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。