US Embassy Bombing Suspects on Trial in Kenya

US Embassy Bombing Suspects on Trial in Kenya

 

Cathy Majtenyi

The trial of three Kenyan men suspected of plotting to blow up a hotel and shoot down an Israeli jetliner in Mombasa and bomb the U.S. embassy in Nairobi opened Wednesday in Kenya's capital. The trial opened with witnesses testifying about the backgrounds of Mohamed Kubwa Seif, Said Saggar Ahmed and Salmin Mohammed Khamis.

The three face charges of "conspiracy¹ to commit a felony," which, if convicted, could mean a maximum seven-year prison sentence.

The three defendants³ stand accused of planning the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi in which more than 200 Kenyans died. The al-Qaida terror network claimed responsibility for the Mombasa attacks and is widely blamed for the embassy bombing.

The men also allegedly plotted to bomb the new U.S. embassy in Nairobi between November 2002 and June 2003.

The three men are also accused of being involved in the November 2002 suicide bombing of the Israeli-owned Paradise Hotel near the Kenyan coastal⁴ town of Mombasa. Some 18 people, were killed in that attack.

They also face charges of attempting to shoot down an Israeli tourist jet as it was taking off from the Mombasa airport at about the same time as the hotel bombing.

Witnesses at Wednesday's opening session testified about what happened at the Mombasa airport.

The three defendants were among seven people originally charged with murder in connection with the Paradise Hotel bombing. All charges against two others were dropped late last year.

Their charges were reduced to "conspiracy to commit a felony" late last year after prosecution⁵ lawyers admitted there was insufficient⁶ evidence to charge them with murder.

However, four suspects are still being charged with multiple counts of murder in connection with the Paradise Hotel bombing.

The murder trial of Omar Said Omar, Mohamed Kubwa, Aboud Rogo Mohammed and Mohamed Ali Saleh Nabhan is expected to open later this month.

 

注释：

trial [5traiEl] n. 审讯，审判

plot [plCt] vt. 密谋

shoot down  击落, 击毙

jetliner [5dVet7lainE] n. 喷气客机

Mombasa  蒙巴萨岛（肯尼亚）

Nairobi  内罗毕，肯尼亚的首都

Kenya [5ki:njE]n.肯尼亚

testify [5testifai] v. 作证

conspiracy [kEn5spirEsi] n. 共谋，阴谋

felony [5felEni] n. （律）重罪

defendant² [di5fendEnt] n. 被告

al-Qaida terror network  基地恐怖组织

allegedly [E5ledVIdlI] adv. 依其申述

session [5seFEn] n. 开庭

drop  v. 使结束，不再讨论

prosecution [7prCsi5kju:FEn] n. 起诉

count [kaJnt] n. 罪状

 

1 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

2 defendant   

n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的

参考例句：

• The judge rejected a bribe from the defendant's family.法官拒收被告家属的贿赂。
• The defendant was borne down by the weight of evidence.有力的证据使被告认输了。

3 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

4 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

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 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。