I wanted to conduct my own defence in court, but as soon as my father found out what had happened, he hired a very good solicitor. We went along that Monday armed with all kinds of witnesses, including my English teacher from school as a character witness人證. But he was never called on to give evidence. My 'trial' didn't get that(=so) far. The magistrate dismissed the case after fifteen minutes. I was free. The poor police had never stood a chance. The solicitor even succeeded in getting costs awarded against the police.
And so I do not have a criminal record案底. But what was most shocking at the time was the things my release from the charge so clearly depended on. I had the 'right' accent, respectable middle-class parents in court, reliable witnesses, and I could obviously afford a very good solicitor. Given the obscure nature of the charge, I feel sure that if I had come from a different background, and had really been unemployed, there is every chance that I would have been found guilty. While asking for costs to be awarded, my solicitor's case quite obviously revolved around the fact that I had a 'brilliant academic record'.
Meanwhile, just outside the courtroom, one of the policemen who had arrested me was gloomily complaining to my mother that another youngster had been turned against變得敵對 the police. 'You could have been a bit more helpful when we arrested you,' he said to me reproachfully.
What did the mean? Presumably that I should have looked outraged and said something like, 'Look here, do you know who you're talking to? I am a highly successful student with a brilliant academic record. How dare you arrest me!' Then they, presumably, would have apologized, perhaps even taken off their caps, and let me on my way.
given 可以當(dāng)介詞或連詞
prep. taking into account; if allowed or provided with 考慮到；假定
obscure
a. not clearly seen or understood 模糊的；晦澀的
guilty 無罪innocence
a. having broken a law; showing or feeling that one has done wrong 有罪的；內(nèi)疚的
revolve 牽涉involve 進(jìn)化、進(jìn)展 evolve
v. (cause to) go round in a circle （使）旋轉(zhuǎn)
brilliant
a. causing great admiration or satisfaction; splendid 輝煌的；卓越的
courtroom
n. a room where a law court is held 審判室
meanwhile =at the same time
ad. during the same period of time 同時(shí)
gloomily
ad. depressedly, dejectedly 憂郁地；沮喪地
complain
vi. speak in an unhappy, annoyed, dissatisfied way 抱怨
complaint n.
reproachfully 責(zé)備reproach
ad. 責(zé)備地
presumably 假定、推測presume
ad. Probably 推測起來大概是
outrage 憤怒rage
vt. arouse anger or resentment by injury or insult 引起……的氣憤
successful
a. having done what one has tried to do; having gained a high position in life, one's job. etc. 成功的；有成就的
apologize apologize to sb,
vi. say one is sorry 道歉，謝罪