2006年VOA标准英语-Major Weapons Trial Begins In Zimbabwe

By Peta Thornycroft
Johannesburg
01 November 2006

The trial of a White Zimbabwean accused of illegal possession of automatic weapons finally began this week in Mutare after being delayed over legal technicalities. Michael Hitschmann has been accused by the state of trying to hire a Zimbabwe army officer to assassinate¹ senior businessmen and white farmers loyal to the ruling Zanu PF. The weapons charges carry a life sentence.

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The trial of Michael Hitschmann continues today, a day after the state's key witness told a packed courtroom that Hitschmann approached him and asked that he join a organization to overthrow² the government.

Army Major Israel Phiri testified that Hitschmann tried to recruit him for a shadowy organization, the Zimbabwe Freedom Movement, which was launched in London five years ago. He said the organization, in addition to overthrowing³ the government, planned to assassinate several top businessman and white farmers loyal to the ruling Zanu PF.

Phiri claims he immediately reported Hitschmann's plans to authorities.

The government accuses Hitschmann of possession of 11 automatic weapons, thousands of rounds of ammunition⁴ and other military material. No one is allowed to hold automatic weapons in Zimbabwe without special permission. He was arrested in March and refused bail⁵.

In defense⁶ documents submitted to the court, Hitschmann admits he was in possession of automatic weapons but says he is a registered gun dealer⁷, and was going to hand them over to the police. He says the weapons were given to him by fearful white farmers who fled their land in 2004 and 2005.

Forty-six-year-old Hitschmann used to be a member of the part-time voluntary police reserve in his hometown Mutare. He claims he assisted the police in suppressing trade unions in 1997.

Harare High Court Justice Alpheus Chitakunya will hear testimony⁸ from Hitschmann who claims he was tortured after his arrest, including being kicked twice in his groin and having his buttocks burned by lighted cigarettes. He will challenge the legality of his confession⁹, saying it was extracted through torture.

This case is one of the most serious involving weapons in Zimbabwe in the last 20 years, according to legal analysts¹⁰.

Two other men, both opposition¹¹ supporters who were arrested with Hitschmann, and who allegedly have disappeared after being freed on bail, claimed in a previous court hearing that they were also tortured in detention¹².

A former opposition legislator, Roy Bennett fled the country after Hitschmann's arrest and sought asylum¹³ in South Africa.

A serving MDC legislator, Giles Mutsekwa, also arrested in connection in the same case, was released but has not been charged and is still in Zimbabwe.

1 assassinate   

vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤

参考例句：

• The police exposed a criminal plot to assassinate the president.警方侦破了一个行刺总统的阴谋。
• A plot to assassinate the banker has been uncovered by the police.暗杀银行家的密谋被警方侦破了。

2 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

3 overthrowing   

v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的现在分词 )；使终止

参考例句：

• They succeeded in overthrowing the fascist dictatorship. 他们成功推翻了法西斯独裁统治。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I always delight in overthrowing those kinds of schemes. 我一向喜欢戳穿人家的诡计。 来自辞典例句

4 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

5 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

8 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

9 confession   

n.自白，供认，承认

参考例句：

• Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
• The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

12 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

13 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。