Police take second bite at 9-year-old crime

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Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. burglary / ˈbɜr glə ri / (n.) – the crime of illegally entering a place or building to steal something
    Example:

    The man caught stealing TVs from our office will be charged with burglary.


  2. help (oneself) to (something) / hɛlp tʊ / (idiom) – to take or consume something without asking for permission
    Example:

    Customers can help themselves to free samples of our latest product.


  3. break-in / ˈbreɪkˌɪn / (n.) – the act of illegally entering a place or building by force
    Example:

    My neighbor had a break-in while she was on vacation. They somehow entered through her back window even though it was locked.


  4. statute of limitations / ˈstætʃ ut ʌv ˌlɪm ɪˈteɪ ʃənz / (n.) – a law that assigns a certain time period for when a crime can be punished
    Example:

    They finally caught the killer after 30 years, but he didn’t go to jail because the statute of limitations had already expired.


  5. extradite / ˈɛk strəˌdaɪt / (v.) – to send someone to a state or country where he’s/she’s been accused of a crime
    Example:

    The British government is being asked to extradite the man accused of faking his identity in Spain.


Article

Read the text below.

German police say they have solved a 9-year-old burglary after DNA found on a half-eaten piece of sausage matched that of a man who had been detained in France over an unrelated crime.


Police in the western town of Schwelm said March 11 that the sausage belonged to the victim, and the suspect — a 30-year-old Albanian citizen — appeared to have helped himself to a bite during the March 2012 break-in.


It wasn’t clear what type of sausage — known in Germany as wurst — the burglar had nibbled, though police said it was a hard variety.


Investigators in Germany were recently alerted that French police had taken a matching DNA sample from a man involved in a violent crime.


But Schwelm police said the suspect remains free and, in the wurst case, he may escape punishment. The statute of limitations on the burglary has expired, meaning he will likely not be extradited to Germany. (AP)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The suspect will likely not be extradited to Germany because the statute of limitations has expired. Do you think it’s okay for someone to escape punishment just because the statute of limitations has expired? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Some countries refuse to extradite suspected criminals to other countries. In your opinion, is that good or bad? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The burglary was solved after nine years. In your opinion, what are the chances of solving old crimes (ex. pretty high with new technology, quite low because police aren’t interested anymore)? Why? Discuss.
  • The burglary was solved thanks to DNA from a half-eaten sausage. Why do you think the man decided to eat half a piece of sausage during his burglary (ex. he was hungry, he thought it was funny)? Discuss.