A Case of Murder

TASK 11. Read the text.

At the age of forty-two, Kurt Hofmann, a German businessman, was given a very high position in a large company in Zurich, Switzerland. He took the job as head of the marketing department even though he had not had direct experience in this type of work before. He was very ambitious and really wanted this well-paid job. The company gave him the job even though they knew it was a "problem" position.

After about six month it was clear that Mr. Hofmann was under a lot of stress.

TASK 12. Work with a partner and number these stress factors 1-10, starting with 1 as the most serious.

_his job was beyond him, he just couldn't do it;

_his colleagues, five men in particular, disliked him and told

everyone how bad he was at his job;

_his superior didn't help him at all;

_his wife left him;

_his girlfriend refused to move to Zurich;

_^ he had to move away from the town where he had always lived;

_he was living in a foreign country;

_he worked at least twelve hours a day trying to do the job;

_^ there was no one at work he could trust;

,_he was living alone for the first time in his life.

TASK 13. Tell the group Mr. Hofmann's story up to the day when he committed a crime.

TASK 14. Read this press report from an the evening newspaper.

1ШСШЛ inarltetiiMi chief kill* four

The head of the marketing department at REGINA, Kurt Hofmann, shot five employees, killing four and seriously injuring one, this morning. He escaped from the REGINA head office and has not been

found yet. He is armed and may be dangerous.

He was arrested a couple of weeks later in a hotel a few hundred miles away. When his trial took place month later, lots of comments were made about him.

TASK 15. Imagine you are a witness for Mr. Hofmann's case Develop these ideas Persuade the court that he is guilty (not guilty)

"I'm a handwriting analyst. Samples of his handwriting over the years show definite signs of instability."

"I work at REGINA. He should be put in prison for the rest of his life - every day of it."

"I'm a psychiatrist. I've examined Mr. Hofmann and I can definitely say that he is unable to cope with stress. He is not a leader and probably never was."

"Mr. Hofmann lived in the flat upstairs.

He seemed such a nice man.

I can't understand it all.

I feel very sorry for him."

The consequences of that fateful day were:

-for Mr. Hofmann - seventeen years in prison;

-for his immediate superior - early retirement with a good pension;

-for four employees - death, leaving three widows and seven orphans;

-for one employee - disability for the rest of his life.

TASK 16. Work in groups of four to decide:

a) if you think seventeen years was a fair sentence.

b) if you think any other people were also partly responsible for what Mr. Hofmann did.

Give reasons for your decisions. c)What do you think will be the consequences of Mr. Hoftnann's long stay in prison?

"I'm Going Straight!"

(the problem of long-term prisoners)

TASK 17. Answer the questions.

1. Do you think imprisonment is the right method to help a criminal go straight? Prove your opinion.

2. What crimes should be punished by imprisonment?

3. What qualities can a person get rid of in prison (if any)?

TASK 18. Listen to the interview and explain some of Harry's words.

1.... we used to hang round there all day ...

2.... I ended up in Borstal...

3.... for beating up old ladies ...

4.... the worst thing is being shut up all the time...

5.... I can't stand setting up ... 6.... burglary mostly... 7.... I've admitted doing a lot of things ... 8.... spending half of my life behind bars ... 9.... I'm hoping to qualify as mechanic. 10... That's a bit of a problem! 11... employing someone with a record like mine.

TASK 19. Listen again and comment on the meanings of these words.

a) a "nipper" is

b) "juke box" is

c) "Woolworth's" is

d) "Borstal" is

TASK 20. Read Harry's interview.

1. a pickpocket

2. a shop-lifter

3. a young guy

1. a box of chewing gum

2. a record player in a bar

3. the radio

1. a railway station

2. a department store

3. a police station

1. a special centre for young offenders

2. a famous theatre

3. sea resort

In tonight's edition of Reflections we are going to look at the problems of long-term-prisoners. We took our cameras into several prisons, and our first interview is with a man we shall call "Harry", although that is not his real name. He spoke to Chloe West about his career in crime.

Chloe: Harry, you're serving a five year sentence for robbery with violence.

Harry: That's right.

Chloe: Perhaps you could begin by telling us about your early life.

Harry:

Chloe: Harry.

Chloe-Harry-Chloe:

Yeah. Well, I grew up in South London. 1 was on my own a lot; see, my mother used to work down the fish market, and my dad - well, he ran off when I was just a nipper. Did you have any friends?

Oh, yeah. All the kids from our street used to meet up at the coffee bar. There was one at the end of the road. We didn't have much money, so we used to hang round there all day. We never used to go to the cinema, or dancing, or anything like that. We couldn't afford it. What did you use to do there?

Oh, we just sat around listening to the juke box. Nothing special. When did you start getting into trouble?

Harry I suppose I was fourteen, something like that. My friends used to go shop­lifting at Woollies ...Woolworth's, and one day we were caught. I ended up in Borstal. Chloe. You mean, they sent you to Borstal

for... for shop-lifting? Harry: Well, yeah. After the fourth time ...

and for beating-up old ladies. Chloe You used to beat-up old ladies? Harry: Well, only when I was trying to rob them.

Chloe- You beat them up and then robbed them? Harry: Yeah. I used to do that. Chloe: Perhaps you'd tell me about your life in prison.

Harry: I suppose the worst thing is being shut up all the time. Yeah, and I can't stand getting up at 5.30, either. I just can't get used to that, even though I've been here more than three years. You see, before I came here I liked staying in bed all morning. I was on night work, you see. Chloe. Night work? Harry: Mmm. Burglary, mostly. Hah-ha. I caught you there. I can't get used to

going to bed at eight, either. Chloe. Harry, if you don't mind me saying so, a lot of viewers will think of you

as an enemy of society.

Harry- Well, that's fair enough. But I've admitted doing a lot of things. I've spent a lot of time thinking. I could keep on stealing things, but I'd end up spending half my life behind bars. I'm going straight this time, don't you worry.

Chloe What do you intend doing when you get out?

Harry. I'm very fond of working on motor-bikes. I've been studying while I've been inside, and I'm hoping to qualify as a mechanic.

Chloe: Do you think you'll be able to get a job?

Harry: That's a bit of a problem. People are scared of employing someone with

a record like mine, you know, for fear they begin stealing again. Chloe: How will you ge,t round that?

Harry: I'm planning on working for my brother. He's got a motor-bike shop. Chloe: So, you plan to work for your brother? Harry: That's right. I tell you, I won't be back. I'm not going to risk wasting

another five years.

Chloe: Well, I wish you luck, Harry. Harry: Thanks.

Chloe West is a TV reporter - so she's made a TV programme about Harry. Imagine you are a newspaper reporter. Write a short article for your newspaper about Harry.

TASK 21. Work in pairs and discuss the following points.

1. Do you think Harry will really go straight? Prove your opinion.

2. If you were in prison what wouldn't you be able to get used to?

UnitV LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

LET'S DO JUSTICE