1. blood murder the lead piping in the conservatory revenge the candlestick in the ballroom mysteries corpse

2. 2 If you work through this module, you’ll know all the lexis you need to follow a murder mystery. Then you can watch and enjoy one in English...... There is plenty of choice, and our heroes usually get their man – and sometimes woman..... so all’s well that ends well, except for the victims of course...... Watch out for a high body-count, especially in “Midsomer Murders”, where our lads often need numerous deaths until all the possible suspects but one have been eliminated ….. GOOD LUCK ….. PS Click here for a complete list in pdf format of events following a murder.Click here for a complete list in pdf format of events following a murder.

3. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 3 First – the Key Characters in a murder mystery ….. There is a lot of content in this module! Don‘t feel you have to do it all in one go!

4. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 4 The policeman who investigates serious crime is a __________________. detective usually an Inspector working with a Sergeant SAY to yourself the missing word(s), then check by clicking the slide. detectives

5. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 5 The branch of the police (in the UK) which investigates serious crime is the ________. CID – (Criminal Investigation Department)

6. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 6 The detective in charge of a major case usually has the rank of DI, or even DCI, which is an abbreviation of _________. Detective Chief Inspector

7. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 7 Detectives in the CID always wear _________ clothes. plain

8. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 8 The person who is the target of a crime is the __________. victim in the photo above, the woman is a victim of a mugging in the US crime series “CSI Miami”, the investigating team often refer to the victim as “the vic”

9. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 9 The person who commits a crime, the guilty person, is often called the _________. culprit in the photo above, the culprit (in this case a mugger) is trying to steal a lady‘s handbag

10. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 10 We don’t say to “do” a crime, but to __________ one. commit You can also commit specific crimes: to commit murder, arson, burglary, fraud etc

11. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 11 The lowest-ranked uniformed policeman who assists detectives is a ___________. a PC (police constable) or a WPC (woman police constable) “Police Constable” is the lowest rank in the British police force, but by tradition, the HIGHEST-ranking police officer is a “Chief Constable”, who is responsible for an entire county’s police force.

12. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 12 One high-ranking detective is usually nominated to investigate each serious crime. He or she is known as the ___________. S.I.O. (Senior Investigating Officer) “Police Constable” is the lowest rank in the British police force, but by tradition, the HIGHEST-ranking police officer is a “Chief Constable”, who is responsible for an entire county’s police force.

13. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 13 The person or persons that the police think may have committed a crime are the __________. suspects Normally, a suspect is “innocent until found guilty”, but as far as the Jesse James gang was concerned, the police were pretty sure when they issued this famous poster!

14. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 14 Physical evidence at a crime scene is vital, so detectives immediately call in a team of forensic crime specialists known as _____________. “SOCO” Scene Of Crime Officers In the USA, these are called “CSI” (Crime Scene Investigators).

15. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 15 The scientifically-trained specialist who evaluates possible evidence in a laboratory is a ___________. forensic scientist He or she specializes in forensic evidence from crimes.

16. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 16 One or more forensic pathologists will normally examine a dead body to determine the cause and time of death and report details of any evidence found to the investigating officers. This special medical procedure is called … an autopsy and sometimes a post mortem

17. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 17 OK – now we know the key players, it’s time for the rest of the essential language …. … some of which is police JARGON or slang.

18. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 18 The place where a crime takes place is called the _________. crimescene … and is usually cordoned off by the police to stop the public from entering

19. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 19 If someone ______ a crime committed by someone else, then they should call 999. witnesses Someone who WITNESSES an event at first hand is also a witness.

20. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 20 In many cases the police set up ________ to check cars leaving an area. road blocks In the USA, they often talk about putting out an APB (All Points Bulletin).

21. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 21 In a murder, of course, the main object the police want to find is the murder ________. (the object used to commit the murder) weapon

22. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 22 In a murder case, one of the first things the police do is to inform the victim’s nearest relative, better known as his or her __________. next-of-kin

23. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 23 ________ is information and facts that the police look for not only to solve a crime but also to present in court to obtain a conviction. Evidence

24. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 24 When detectives arrive at a crime scene they look for individual pieces of physical evidence called ________. clues

25. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 25 The best physical evidence remains the traditional one of _________, whereby the police can know who touched a murder weapon or something else at the crime scene. fingerprints

26. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 26 Any criminal with half a brain cell knows that fingerprints provide damning evidence, so he or she will take care to wear _____________ when committing the crime. gloves

27. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 27 The police often look for a __________ in a series of crimes; similarities, or things which they have in common. This may give them a lead. pattern

28. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 28 Another way to think of this is expressed by the abbreviation _____________, from the latin expression meaning “means or way of operating”. M.O. (modus operandi)

29. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 29 If they have to solve a number of murders with similar M.O. they may decide that they are looking for a ___________ killer. serial The most famous example in the UK was perhaps Jack-the-Ripper …

30. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 30 In recent years, they have also increasingly been able to solve crimes by finding samples of _______ at the crime scene. This is the unique genetic code for each human and is present in body fluids, for example. DNA deoxyribonucleic acid

31. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 31 When the police give a press conference, reporters always ask them if they have got any _______, that is to say, any paths of enquiry that they are following. leads

32. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 32 Anyone involved in any way with the victim or the crime will be asked questions, or _______. interviewed

33. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 33 The branch of medicine that deals with the evidence from dead bodies and crime-scenes is called __________ medicine. forensic medicine

34. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 34 Of course, once a body has been ________, (incinerated in a furnace), then an autopsy is of little value! cremated

35. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 35 If the police had no clues, why would they NOT say: “We are clueless.”? because that would mean they had no idea what they were doing and/or were totally incompetent (which could be true, but they wouldn’t admit it ….)

36. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 36 Sometimes a policeman may put on some sort of disguise so that he doesn’t look like a policeman. This is called going __________ under cover Colombo always looks as if he‘s working under cover, though he never is …..

37. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 37 The police will ask many of those they interview about their ________ at the time of death. whereabouts

38. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 38 In other words, they will try to determine whether the interviewee has an __________ for the time of death. alibi

39. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 39 Most murderers will plan to ________ a false alibi so that the police will eliminate them from the list of suspects. set up – prepare

40. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 40 The concept of an alibi is closely linked to that of “__________”. In fact, the key question a detective asks himself is, who had both motive and ?????? to commit the crime opportunity

41. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 41 The reason someone has for committing a crime is called their ___________. motive

42. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 42 The most common motive for any crime is probably financial __________. gain

43. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 43 Another common motive is sexual __________. sexual jealousy

44. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 44 The third most frequent motive is __________. The murderer feels that the victim has in some way cheated or mistreated him and wants to punish him (or her) for this. revenge

45. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 45 __________ is when someone demands money to keep a secret. They usually send their demands in anonymous letters or phone calls. Blackmail This is of course very dangerous for the blackmailer, who therefore tries to hide his or her identity. Sometimes this doesn‘t work, and the police find themselves investigating the murder of a blackmailer.

46. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 46 Criminals try to avoid using the phone because phone calls can be often be _________. traced

47. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 47 To see who might have had a motive for the crime, detectives always want to know as soon as possible who was the main beneficiary of the victim’s _________, in which he or she details who should inherit his or her estate. (last) will (and testament) (the term “ last will and testament ” is a legal one, but we usually only say the word “ will ” )

48. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 48 The police always check the PNC to see whether a suspect has any __________ convictions. previous PNC = Police National Computer We often hear the phrase: “Can you do a PNC check on X”?

49. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 49 Someone who has once been convicted of a crime has a criminal ________. record

50. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 50 The UK police jargon to describe someone with a previous conviction (a criminal record) is to say that he or she has …. form

51. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 51 Sometimes the police interview a suspect before they have enough evidence to charge him. If the press think the police HAVE got their man, then until they charge him all the police will say to the press is that he is “helping them with their ______________.” enquiries

52. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 52 When the police finally catch their prime suspect, they _______ him or her and take him or her to the police station. arrest

53. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 53 They usually put _______ around the suspect’s wrists so that there is less danger of him or her trying to escape. handcuffs

54. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 54 When the police arrest someone they are obliged to _________ him. This involves giving him a warning about what he says or does not say at the moment of arrest. caution This is known in the USA as “reading someone their rights”.

55. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 55 The UK wording for the caution given on arrest is: “You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your ________ if you do not mention now anything you later rely on in court. Anything you do say will be given in evidence.” defence This is known in the USA as “reading someone their rights”.

56. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 56 At the police station the suspect is _______ with a particular offence: murder, arson, burglary or whatever. charged

57. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 57 The suspect will be asked questions, or ___________. interrogated “interviewed” is less severe - witnesses are interviewed - an accused is interrogated

58. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 58 If the police switch the recorder off and do not take a note of what they or a witness says, this is known as speaking __________. off-the-record We also say, for example: “X is on record as saying Y.”

59. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 59 When there is an eyewitness to the crime the police always want to know if this witness can identify the culprit, so they organise an __________ parade to see if the witness can pick out the suspect from a number of similar-looking people. identity parade This is often referred to in police jargon as “a line-up”.

60. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 60 The police always hope that the accused will own up, or ________ to the crime. This saves a lot of expense and time, especially in paperwork. confess

61. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 61 They are also very keen to find out whether the culprit acted alone, or if he had any ______________. accomplices

62. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 62 If the police believe that the suspect DOES have accomplices, then they try to get him or her to “__________” on them (give their names to the police). grass (police jargon)

63. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 63 Someone who may not have actually committed or helped in the crime in any way but who DOES assist the culprit AFTER the crime is also committing a serious offence. Such a person is known as an ____________ after the fact. accessory An “accessory after the fact” may have HELPED the culprit afterwards but not actually committed the crime.

64. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 64 In rare cases, a rogue policeman may manipulate or _______ evidence in order to gain a conviction. fabricate

65. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 65 This is known in police jargon as “________ someone up”, or “framing” them. fitting someone up

66. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 66 If the charge is not very serious, the accused may be __________; this is when he pays a large sum of money to the court which he will lose if he doesn’t turn up for his court hearing. bailed

67. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 67 If the charge IS serious, then the accused is held on ______; this means kept in prison while waiting for his or her trial. remand

68. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 68 Anyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to ask for a ___________ to give him or her legal advice. solicitor

69. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 69 In a serious case, the solicitor with then brief (give the facts to) a specialist advocate called a _________, who will defend the accused in a court of law. barrister

70. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 70 The solicitor briefs (gives information to) a barrister. The relevant papers are also called briefs, and are obviously carried in a _____________. briefcase These days, briefcases are used by all sorts of people, not only lawyers.

71. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 71 To be held at a police station by the police is to be in ________. custody

72. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 72 In most police stations, the custody sergeant is _________ for the prisoner’s safety. responsible

73. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 73 One of the custody sergeant’s most important responsibilities is to ensure that someone in custody does not commit ___________. suicide

74. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 74 The police have to prepare their case and present it to the _______, who will decide whether the case can go to trial. CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) Crown means that the service represents the Monarch (King or Queen)

75. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 75 The CPS base their decision about whether to go to trial on whether there is a reasonable chance of getting a ______. To convict someone is to find them guilty in a court. A “convict” is someone convicted, but the word convict is not used very often these days. Hundreds of years ago, English convicts were sent to Australia. conviction

76. This module: “The Language of Crime” (72 items) © Chris Snuggs 28 April, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision 76 The police may believe they have the right culprit, but unless the CPS sees enough evidence to convince a court, then they will not give the go-_________. go-ahead

77. 77 fabricating evidence to try to get someone wrongly convictedframing them, or fitting them up START AGAIN someone with a criminal record is said to have ______form the police call “solving a case” “getting ________”a result a criminal who informs on his accomplices is _______a grass term describing murder mysteries, by Agatha Christie for examplewhodunnits ditto but for major crimes and informing on many accomplices a supergrass where the police might keep a witness for his or her protectiona safe house Finally, some essential police jargon! 77 © Chris Snuggs 22 March, 2012 Self-testing Vocabulary Revision the suspect has fled, escaped or done __________ a runner