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English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate (Unit 39: Crime)


A. Crimes and criminals

All the verbs in the table below are regular. Note that the verb terrorise is mainly used in a general way, meaning to make others very frightened, rather than just relating to the crime.

crime definition criminal verb
murder killing someone murderer murder
shoplifting stealing something from a shop shoplifter shoplift
burglary stealing something from someone’s home burglar burgle
smuggling taking something illegally into another country smuggler smuggle
kidnapping taking a person hostage in exchange for money or other favours, etc. kidnapper kidnap
terrorism violent action for political purposes terrorist (terrorise)
fraud deceiving people in order to take money from them fraudster defraud
abduction taking someone, especially a child, usually in order to harm them abductor abduct

B. Investigating crime

Ross committed a crime when he robbed a bank. Someone witnessed the crime and told the police. The police arrested Ross and charged him with bank robbery. They also accused his twin brother, Ben, of being his accomplice¹. The police investigated the case² and collected evidence³ at the crime scene. They found Ross’s fingerprints and also found DNA evidence⁴ that linked him to the crime, so they were confident they had proof⁵ that the two men were guilty.

  • 1 someone who helps someone commit a crime
  • 2 a crime that is being investigated
  • 3 information used in a court of law to decide whether the accused is guilty or not
  • 4 evidence from hair or skin that can be analysed scientifically and be shown to come from a particular person
  • 5 evidence that shows conclusively whether something is a fact or not

C. Trial and punishment

  • The case came to court¹, and Ross and Ben were tried². The trial³ did not last long.
  • Ross and Ben both pleaded not guilty⁴. Their lawyer did her best to defend them, but the prosecuting lawyer produced a very strong case.
  • After jury deliberations⁵, the verdict was that Ross was guilty and had been convicted of⁶ robbery. Ben was innocent⁷.
  • The judge acquitted Ben and sentenced Ross to three years in prison/jail. Ross also had to pay a large fine.
  • Ross served two years and was released early. He got time off for good behaviour.

  • 1 the place where a judge makes legal decisions
  • 2 were put through a legal process to decide whether they committed the crime or not
  • 3 the legal process in court whereby an accused person is investigated and tried
  • 4 said they did not commit the crime
  • 5 discussions
  • 6 found to be guilty of a crime
  • 7 not guilty of a crime

D. People connected with crime and the legal process

  • offender: someone who commits an illegal act (an offence)
  • judge: the person who leads a trial and decides on the sentence
  • jury: group of citizens who decide whether the accused is guilty or not
  • victim: a person who suffers as the result of a crime
  • suspect: a person who is suspected of committing an offence
  • witness: a person who sees a crime being committed
Exercise-39.1


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