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81
An 82-year-old man who shot a burglar who was trying to break into his allotment shed was ordered to
pay him $ 4000 damages yesterday. Ted Newberey had been sleeping in a shed to try to stop vandals destroying
his allotment. He fired through a hole in the door when he heard voices outside. Mark Revill, 28, was hit in the
chest and arm by 50 shotgun pellets as he and another man tried to smash their way into the shed.
They had gone there to steal, knowing that the pensioner had a television set and a washing machine in the
shed.
Mr Newbery had slept in the shed every night for four years because of vandalism, the court was told by
the defense. That night, he heard a loud banging on the door and a voice saying: «If the old man's in there, we'll
do him». He was absolutely terrified, and fired the gun in self-defense. As the result of the incident, Mr Revill
lost two fingers, and has partially lost the use of one arm
Mr Justice Rougier ruled that Mr. Newbery had acted out of all proportion to the threat. He had not acted
in panic, but had planned his response in advance, and it had been reckless to shoot the shotgun through a hole
in the door, while not being able to see what he was shooting at. Mr Justice Rougier awarded Revill $4000 for
his injuries and loss of earnings.
The judgement coursed an immediate public outcry. Tim Molloney the Mayor of Erewash, launched an
appeal to raise money to pay Mr Newbery's bill, and started the fund with a contribution of $100. Since then,
money has been pouring in from all over the country. A London restaurateur was one of the dozens to call «The
Times» to express his anger over the affair. Husseyin Ozer, 42, said he would sell his Rolex watch to pay the
award. «I'm outraged. The old saying that an Englishman's home is his castle doesn't seem to be true any
more», he said.
(350 words)
12.6.3. Answer the questions in 12.6.1. (Books closed.)
12.7. Listening practice
12.7.1. Look at the following questions. You'll have to answer them after listening to the text.
1. Why wasn't the student driving carefully?
2. What was the girl wearing and what was she carrying?
3. Where was the dog sitting?
12.7.2. Listen to the dialogue.
12.7.3. Answer the questions in 12.7.1.
12.7.4. Look through the list of words. They will help you to understand the text.
respond — реагировать
violence — насилие
coach — тренер
victim — жертва
scream — кричать
kick — бить ногами
brick — кирпич
half-conscious — в полубессознательном состоянии
stitch — шов
nightmare — кошмар
regret — сожалеть
12.7.5. Listen to the story. Be ready to give the contents of it in Russian.
12.7.6. Tell the contents of the story as close to the text as possible. You may do it in Russian.
12.8. Time for fun
12.8.1. Read the following jokes. Try to retell them. You may do it in Russian.
1. A friend of the judge dropped in for a visit one morning before court opened and looked around.
«Goodness, you certainly have a lot of criminals to try this morning, haven't you?» he observed.
«Oh, not so many», answered the judge. «You are looking at the wrong bench — those are the lawyers».
2. Lawyer: Now that we have won, will you tell me confidentially if you stole the money?
Client: Well, after hearing you talk in court yesterday, I am beginning to think I didn't.
3. Judge: Have you anything to say before I pass sentence on you?
Prisoner: Yes, Your Honour, I should like you to have your lunch first.
? *12.8.2. A word has five letters. Take away two, and only one remains. Guess which word it is.
? 12.8.3. Lots of English words sound alike but have different meaning. Can you complete the sentences
using words from the list below?