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Words
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INTRO
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The
British former cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken was sentenced to 18
months in prison for perjury and conspiracy to pervert the course
of justice.
We heard from Mr Aitken's lawyer, from Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a former
colleague, and an earlier statement from Mr Aitken. |
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IN
FULL
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Listen
to the report in full |
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10th
June 1999
Jonathan
Aitken
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1 |
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On
January 19th this year Jonthan Aitken admitted charges of perjury
and perverting the course of justice. Today in court number
one he was sentenced to eighteen months in prison. Mr Aitken
does not intend to appeal. (Bruce Streather, Mr Aitken's lawyer) |
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WORDS
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admitted charges:
he said he had done what he was accused of
perjury: a legal
term: if you take an oath in a court of law and then lie, then you
commit perjury
perverting: interfering
with the process of justice
sentenced: the
announcement of the punishment that a person will receive after
they have ben found guilty
appeal: a request
for a decision to be changed
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| NEWS
2 |
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He's
become very realistic about what has happened. He doesn't blame anyone
else, he blames himself entirely for what has happened. He recognises
he behaved very foolishly. I think there is genuine remorse
there. It doesn't excuse behaviour, but I think it shows a human
quality which is not surprising. I mean he's a very human person and
like all human beings, he has strong points and weak points,
but sadly the weak points have brought him to his current state. (Sir
Malcom Rifkind) |
| WORDS |
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foolishly: the
opposite of behaving sensibly
remorse: a strong
feeling of regret and guilt at something wrong you have done
strong points and
weak points: a point is a quality or aspect of someone
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| NEWS
3 |
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Mr Aitken made this statement
when launching a libel action against a British newspaper in 1995.
If it now falls to me to start a fight, to cut out the
cancer of bent and twisted journalism in our country
with the simple sword of truth and the trusty shield of
traditional Britsh fair play, so be it. I am ready for that fight
- the fight against falsehood and all who peddle it.
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falls to me: a
formal way of saying it is his responsibility
bent and twisted journalism:
writing in newspapers that distorts the truth
cut out the cancer:
a figurative expression meaning to eliminate
simple sword...trusty
shield: a somewhat poetic expression: 'fair play' means that
you don't cheat at sports
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Read
about the background in BBC News Online |
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