April 2-英语点津

Maurice Papon: plans to appeal

1998: Papon guilty of war crimes

England have

Former French cabinet minister Maurice Papon has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for his part in deporting Jews from France during World War II.

The prosecution had asked for a 20-year sentence for Papon who helped send more than 1,600 Jews to their deaths in Nazi concentration camps.

Papon was a senior police official in the Vichy regime, a puppet government set up by the Nazis after France's surrender.

During the trial his lawyers argued he was only obeying orders and did his best to protect those selected for deportation.

Papon, whose health is frail, showed little reaction as the verdict was announced.

He arrived in the courtroom shortly before 0700 GMT accompanied by two doctors, who carried emergency medical equipment.

Lawyers for relatives of the victims said the verdict was "historic".

"An important page in our national history has been turned," said Alain Jacobovich, one of the lawyers.

Papon is the most senior official of the Vichy regime to stand trial for crimes against humanity - it has taken 16 years for the case against him to reach court.

His trial re-opened old wounds about French collaboration with the Nazis during the Second World War which resulted in approximately 75,000 French Jews being deported to death camps.

Papon's lawyers have announced they will appeal - a process which could take as long as two years. During that time he will remain free.

Mr Major said the charter would help improve public services

1977: Hat trick for Red Rum

Artificially 1969:
The Red Rum hasgallopedinto racing history by winning the Grand National for a record third time.

The steeple chaser won the race in 1973 and 1974 and came home second in the following two years.

Before the race concern was expressed that at 12 the horse was too old for an event widely regarded as the most dangerous on the jumping circuit.

But after he romped home his jockey, Tommy Stack, said Red Rum's entry had been justified.

"He is so intelligent, always looks for the open places and is always on the alert for loose horses," Mr Stack said.

Record earnings

Red Rum's win on Saturday brought his career earnings to a steeple-chasing record of ?14,000.
The horse took the lead at Becher's Brook on the second circuit of the course when Andy Pandy, the leader and pre-race favourite, fell.

After that Red Rum was never in danger of being caught and came home well clear of second-placed Churchtown Boy and Eyecatcher in third.

Only nine of the 42 runners completed the infamous 4.5 mile (7.2 kilometre) course at Aintree in Liverpool, north-west England.

Two horses, Zeta's Son and Winter Rain, had to be put down after falling and one jockey was taken to hospital.

After the race Red Rum's trainer, Ginger McCain, said he believed the horse would compete again next year.

Bookmakers responded by offering odds of 20-1 against him.

This year's race also featured the first woman rider. In spite of dire warnings from male jockeys and trainers, Charlotte Brew, 21, almost completed the course though she was a long way behind the leaders.

Her horse, Barony Fort, refused the fourth fence from home forcing Ms Brew to pull out of the race.

Vocabulary:

gallop: To move or progress swiftly（疾驰；飞奔）