Manhattan District Attorney Drops Rape Charges Against Harvey Weinstein
曼哈頓區檢察官撤回對哈維·溫斯坦的強姦指控
Introduction
New York prosecutors have decided to drop a rape charge against former film executive Harvey Weinstein because the accuser is unwilling to take part in a fourth trial.
紐約檢察官決定撤回對前電影高層哈維·溫斯坦的一項強姦指控，因為指控者不願意參與第四次審理。
Main Body
The decision to end the legal process follows several court results regarding allegations made by Jessica Mann, who claimed that a non-consensual encounter happened in a Manhattan hotel in 2013. The legal history of this charge has been unstable; a 2020 conviction was later cancelled by an appeals court, and two more trials ended without a result because the juries could not agree on a verdict.
決定終止法律程序是基於先前幾次關於 Jessica Mann 指控的法院結果，她聲稱 2013 年在曼哈頓的一家酒店發生了一次非自願的接觸。該項指控的法律過程一直不穩定；2020 年的定罪隨後被上訴法院撤銷，另兩次審理則因陪審團無法達成一致裁決而未產生結果。
Different parties have expressed opposing views on the matter. District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized that the witness remained credible, but he noted that the repeated trials had become too stressful for Ms. Mann. On the other hand, Mr. Weinstein's lawyers argued that the relationship was consensual and claimed that the failure to get a conviction proved the charges were false. Despite this dismissal, prosecutors have requested a twenty-year prison sentence for Mr. Weinstein's conviction in the assault of Miriam Haley. Furthermore, he will stay in prison due to other convictions in New York and California.
不同當事方對此事表達了截然不同的看法。區檢察官 Alvin Bragg 強調證人依然可信，但他指出重複審理對 Mann 女士而言壓力過大。另一方面，溫斯坦的律師則辯稱該關係是自願的，並聲稱未能定罪證明了指控不實。儘管此次指控被撤銷，檢察官仍就溫斯坦襲擊 Miriam Haley 的定罪要求判處 20 年監禁。此外，由於在紐約和加州有其他定罪，他將繼續留在獄中。
Conclusion
Harvey Weinstein will remain in prison even though the charges brought by Jessica Mann have been dismissed.
雖然 Jessica Mann 提出的指控已被撤銷，但哈維·溫斯坦仍將留在獄中。
Vocabulary Learning
🌉 The 'Logic Leap': Moving from Simple to Complex Connections
An A2 student usually connects ideas with and, but, or because. To hit B2, you need to use Contrast Connectors that signal a professional, academic tone.
Look at this shift from the text:
*"...he noted that the repeated trials had become too stressful... On the other hand, Mr. Weinstein's lawyers argued..."
Why this matters for B2: Instead of saying "But the lawyers said...", using "On the other hand" allows you to balance two opposing arguments without sounding like a beginner. It creates a 'bridge' between two different perspectives.
🛠️ Level-Up Your Vocabulary: The 'Legal' Shift
Stop using generic words like say or do. The article uses Precise Verbs to describe formal actions. Notice the difference:
- A2: The lawyer said the charges were false. B2: The lawyers argued that the charges were false.
- A2: The judge stopped the case. B2: The charges have been dismissed.
- A2: The court said he was guilty. B2: A 2020 conviction was later cancelled.
The Golden Rule for B2 Fluency: Don't just describe what happened; describe the nature of the action. Argued is more powerful than said because it implies a fight or a debate.
⚠️ The 'Passive' Power Play
In A2, we love: Subject Verb Object (e.g., "The court cancelled the conviction").
In B2, we often flip the sentence to focus on the result, not the person. This is called the Passive Voice.
From the text:
"...a 2020 conviction was later cancelled by an appeals court"
By putting the conviction first, the writer emphasizes the legal status rather than the court's identity. This is the hallmark of B2 news and business English.