Judge Named in French Police Crash Case After Riot Night
Listen to the story
An investigating judge has been appointed in France to lead an inquiry into a crash between a police car and a motorbike.
The crash happened after a night of urban violence in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, a town near the city of Tours.
The judge's job is to gather facts and evidence about how the collision took place.
This kind of judge often works on serious cases involving the police or public safety.
The night of violence also led to other legal cases in local courts.
A 19-year-old man was tried for his role in the disorder.
He received a one-year suspended sentence, meaning he will not go to prison unless he offends again.
According to the court, the man had tried to act like a "caïd", a slang word for a tough criminal leader.
The court said he had encouraged other people to join the riot.
Cases like this are part of a wider legal response to the violence in the town.
French authorities often use suspended sentences for young people involved in disorder, especially for a first offence.
The collision between the police car and the motorbike appears to be a separate but related part of the investigation into that night.
More details about the crash, including who was hurt, have not been given yet.
The investigation is expected to continue as the judge collects more evidence.
Vocabulary10 words
- investigating judge
- a judge who collects facts about a crime before a trial
- inquiry
- an official process to find out what happened
- collision
- a strong hit between two moving things
- urban violence
- fighting or damage in a city or town
- suspended sentence
- a prison punishment that is not carried out unless you offend again
- caïd
- slang word for a powerful criminal or gang leader
- encouraged
- pushed someone to do something
- riot
- violent behaviour by a large group of people
- disorder
- a situation with a lot of trouble and no control
- authorities
- officials in charge, like police or government
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Leading an inquiry into the crash 2. A one-year suspended sentence 3. Act like a tough criminal leader
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
An investigating judge has been appointed in France to lead an _____ into a crash between a police car and a motorbike.
The crash happened after a night of urban _____ in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, a town near the city of Tours.
The judge's job is to gather facts and evidence about how the _____ took place.
A 19-year-old man was tried for his role in the _____.
He received a one-year _____ sentence, meaning he will not go to prison unless he offends again.
According to the court, the man had tried to act like a "_____", a slang word for a tough criminal leader.
The court said he had _____ other people to join the riot.
French _____ often use suspended sentences for young people involved in disorder.
The investigation is expected to continue as the judge collects more _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think an investigating judge was needed for the crash?
- Do you think suspended sentences are a fair punishment for young offenders? Why or why not?
- What might cause urban violence to break out in a town?
- How do you think police actions during unrest should be investigated?
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