San Bernardino Council Member Goes on Trial, FBI Link Revealed
Listen to the story
A trial has started in California. A city council member from San Bernardino is on trial.
The trial is for a small crime. This is called a misdemeanor.
Lawyers gave their opening arguments in court. This is when lawyers tell the jury their side of the story first.
The two sides have different ideas about what happened. These are called conflicting theories.
During the trial, people learned something new. The council member also worked as an informant for the FBI.
An informant gives secret information to the police. The FBI is the main police agency in America.
The council member gave information about corruption. Corruption means doing something dishonest for money or power.
The jury will listen to more of the trial. They will decide if the council member is guilty.
Vocabulary15 words
- misdemeanor
- a small crime; not very serious
- opening arguments
- the first speech lawyers give to explain their story
- jury
- a group of people who decide if someone is guilty
- conflicting theories
- two different ideas about what happened
- informant
- a person who secretly gives information to the police
- corruption
- dishonest behavior, often with money or power
- trial
- when a court decides if someone broke the law
- council member
- a person who helps run a city
- FBI
- America's main federal police group
- guilty
- having done a crime
- lawyer
- a person who works with the law in court
- court
- a place where trials happen
- crime
- something against the law
- secret
- not known by other people
- case
- a legal problem being looked at in court
Quiz
Answer key
1. A misdemeanor trial 2. The council member worked as an FBI informant 3. The jury
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A _____ has started in California.
A city council member from San Bernardino is on _____.
The trial is for a small crime. This is called a _____.
Lawyers gave their _____ in court.
This is when lawyers tell the _____ their side of the story first.
The two sides have different ideas. These are called _____ theories.
The council member also worked as an _____ for the FBI.
An informant gives secret information to the _____.
The council member gave information about _____.
The jury will decide if the council member is _____.