a court case for murder
In the gallery someone whispers that this is their first murder trial, nervous and wide-eyed.
It's the first murder trial I've ever been to. It's terrible.Witness for the Prosecution · 1957 — 第 21 / 27 章 · 2'40" · C1
Sir Wilfrid Calls Leonard Vole, Explained：shed new light on
The defence finally opens, and Sir Wilfrid does something unexpected: instead of character witnesses, he calls the prisoner himself. "Only one witness can shed new light on this tragic riddle," he tells the jury—then stakes everything on Leonard Vole's own story.
あらすじ
Sir Wilfrid addresses the court to open the defence. He admits the prosecution's circumstantial case is overwhelming, mentions the witnesses already heard, and warns that Christine Helm's testimony has been admitted. Then he says only one witness can explain the case—and calls Leonard Vole to the stand.
注目の表現
murder trialcircumstantial evidencedecide for yourselvessurprise witness
00:00 / 02:40Space 再生 · ← → セリフ移動 · R リピート
いま
このシーンの表現
shed new light on
reveal something new about
He calls the case a tragic riddle, then names the one witness who could illuminate it.
The letters shed new light on their friendship.
このシーンの他の表現
- murder trial
a court case for murder
- circumstantial evidence
indirect evidence
- decide for yourselves
make your own judgment
- surprise witness
an unexpected witness
- give evidence
testify in court
このシーンのメモ一覧
28 行のセリフに 22 件のメモ
prepared for the defence
Sir Wilfrid. Are you ready for the defence?argue a case against the accused
the prosecution has very ably presented against the prisoner, Leonard Vole,indirect evidence
Sir Wilfrid concedes the case rests on indirect proof that sounds almost impossible to answer.
a case with the most overwhelming circumstantial evidence.Link most and overwhelming; put the stress on the second word.
a case with the most overwhelming circumstantial evidence.fairly and without bias
you have heard Chief Inspector Hearne, who has given his testimony in a fair and impartial manner, as he always does.relative clause: The who-clause describes how Hearne gave evidence rather than adding a new action.
you have heard Chief Inspector Hearne, who has given his testimony in a fair and impartial manner, as he always does.Run fair and together; stress the middle syllable of impartial.
you have heard Chief Inspector Hearne, who has given his testimony in a fair and impartial manner, as he always does.present something to someone
He has put before you a clever theory of how this crime was committed.make your own judgment
He lays out theory versus fact, then stops and hands the verdict back to the jury.
Whether it is theory or actual fact, however, you will decide for yourselves.The for is reduced; keep the main stress on decide.
Whether it is theory or actual fact, however, you will decide for yourselves.very painful losses
a worthy and devoted housekeeper who has suffered two most grievous losses.sincere condolences
but will express only my deepest sympathy for her in both these... mishaps.the ruins of her country
whom the prisoner brought from the rubble of her homeland to the safety of this country,relative clause: Whom refers back to Christine and serves as the object of brought.
whom the prisoner brought from the rubble of her homeland to the safety of this country,testify in court
He explains why he fought the wife's testimony, stating the rule as if it cannot be bent.
I objected to her testimony because a wife cannot give evidence harmful to her husband.reason clause: The because-clause gives the reason for the objection; harmful modifies evidence.
I objected to her testimony because a wife cannot give evidence harmful to her husband.sham and bigamous
But it has been proven that her marriage to Mr Vole was fraudulent and bigamous.extraposition: The it is a placeholder; the real subject is the that-clause, stated impersonally.
But it has been proven that her marriage to Mr Vole was fraudulent and bigamous.representing someone
We could present, on behalf of the prisoner,military service history
witnesses to his character, his war record, the lack of criminal or evil association in his past.reveal something new about
He calls the case a tragic riddle, then names the one witness who could illuminate it.
However, only one witness can shed new light on this tragic riddle.「Sir Wilfrid Calls Leonard Vole」を読み解く
What's really going on
On the surface Sir Wilfrid is politely summarising the prosecution's case. Underneath, he is doing damage control. He concedes the evidence is strong—"a case with the most overwhelming circumstantial evidence"—because fighting it head-on would look desperate. By praising Inspector Hearne and pitying the housekeeper, he sounds fair rather than cornered. The real move is the ending: after dismissing character witnesses, he calls Leonard himself. It is a gamble. Only the defendant can give the jury a story, and only he can be cross-examined on it. By telling the jury that only one witness can "shed new light on this tragic riddle," Sir Wilfrid turns Leonard's testimony into the whole trial.
Theme
JusticeThe defence opens by weighing circumstantial evidence against a witness the jury must judge for themselves.
DeceptionSir Wilfrid quietly undercuts Christine's testimony with a flat "for what it is worth."
このチャプターで学べること
- He concedes the case before he fights it.
- One witness can carry a whole defence.
- The wife's evidence is the sharpest weapon.
- Understatement can sting more than a shout.
発音のポイント
- most overwhelming — Link most and overwhelming; put the stress on the second word.
- fair and impartial — Run fair and together; stress the middle syllable of impartial.
- decide for yourselves — The for is reduced; keep the main stress on decide.
Whether it is theory or actual fact, however, you will decide for yourselves.Sir Wilfrid reminds the jury that the prosecution's elegant theory is not proof; the verdict is theirs alone.
However, only one witness can shed new light on this tragic riddle.After ruling out character witnesses, he says only the defendant can give the jury a new explanation of the case.
I objected to her testimony because a wife cannot give evidence harmful to her husband.He reminds the court he tried to block Christine's testimony under the rule protecting a husband from his wife's evidence.
Such is the prosecution's case. Now it is the tum of the defence.He closes his summary of the prosecution's case and hands the moment to the defence.
このシーンについての質問
Why does Sir Wilfrid call Leonard as the only witness?
Character witnesses would only vouch for Leonard's war record and clean past. Sir Wilfrid says only the prisoner himself can shed new light on the case, so he stakes the defence on Leonard's own account.
Why was Christine Helm allowed to testify against her husband?
The court found their marriage fraudulent and bigamous, so she was not legally his wife. That removed the rule against a wife giving evidence harmful to her husband, and her testimony was admitted.
What does "for what it is worth" imply here?
After her evidence is admitted, Sir Wilfrid's flat aside suggests the jury should not put much weight on it. It signals his contempt for testimony he could not block.
Is Leonard testifying a good idea for the defence?
It is Sir Wilfrid's only real option, but a risky one: Leonard can explain the case in his own words yet is fully open to cross-examination by Myers.
情婦 · 全 27 章
すべて見る →
次のチャプター · 第 22 章establish an alibiMyers Cross-Examines Leonard Vole
第 1 章put it in mothballsSir Wilfrid Goes Home
第 2 章when her back is turnedSir Wilfrid Hides Cigars in His Cane
第 3 章circumstantial evidenceVole Tries to Hire Sir Wilfrid
第 4 章in the hands ofLeonard Tells Sir Wilfrid His Story
第 5 章not cricketHow Vole Met Mrs French
第 6 章a hot potatoLeonard Recounts the Night of the Murder
第 7 章with flying coloursInspector Hearne Arrests Leonard
第 8 章call it what you likeChristine Vole Meets the Lawyers
第 9 章a way with womenChristine and the Green Socks
第 10 章worships the ground I walk onChristine Denies She's His Wife
第 11 章on the chance thatWilfrid Photographs Vole in Prison
第 12 章gave someone ideasLeonard Meets Christine in Hamburg
第 13 章clutching at a razor bladeVole Tells How He Married Christine
第 14 章to a pointLeonard Vole Pleads Not Guilty
第 15 章take someone by surpriseHearne Testifies About the Prints
第 16 章account forThe Bloodstained Jacket in Court
第 17 章hither and thitherJanet McKenzie Takes the Stand
第 18 章a scheming rascalWilfrid Cross-Examines the Housekeeper
第 19 章an accomplice toChristine Testifies Against Vole
第 20 章a chronic and habitual liarMyers Destroys Christine on the Stand
再生中 · 第 21 章shed new light onSir Wilfrid Calls Leonard Vole
第 22 章establish an alibiMyers Cross-Examines Leonard Vole
第 23 章wild-goose chaseThe Call About the German Wife
第 24 章on the slySir Wilfrid Buys the Letters
第 25 章a pack of liesSir Wilfrid's Blue Letter Trap
第 26 章dispose ofVole Is Found Not Guilty
第 27 章call someone namesChristine Reveals Leonard Was Guilty第 21 / 27 章 · 残り約 22 分