B1-19 / CEFR B1 / EPISODE 19

Court Witness

Separating observations from assumptions

SceneTina is a witness in a package-theft case. She saw a man carrying a box out of her building after her morning run.

Tina giving evidence in court.
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STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Narrator

Tina is a witness in a package-theft case. She saw a man carrying a box out of her building after her morning run.

ティナは荷物盗難事件の証人として法廷にいる。朝のランニングから戻ったとき、箱を抱えてアパートを出る男を見たのだ。

Lawyer01

When did you see the man?

男を見たのはいつですか?

Tina02

Six twelve a.m. I'd just finished my run.

朝の6時12分です。ランニングを終えたところでした。

Lawyer03

How can you be sure of the time?

なぜ時刻が正確に分かるのですか?

Tina04

I stopped my running app's timer when I held the door for him.

彼のためにドアを押さえたとき、ランニングアプリのタイマーを止めたからです。

Lawyer05

What happened next?

その次に何がありましたか?

Tina06

He put the box in a gray van. I thought he was a delivery driver.

彼は箱を灰色のバンに積みました。配達の人だと思ったんです。

Lawyer07

Let's stick to what you saw. Did you see the license plate?

見たことをお話しください。ナンバープレートは見ましたか?

Tina08

Not then. But I took my usual post-run selfie.

そのときは見ていません。でも、いつものように走り終わって自撮りをしたんです。

Lawyer09

Was the van in the background?

背景にそのバンが写っていたのですか?

Tina10

Yes. After I heard about the theft, I checked the photo.

はい。盗難があったと聞いてから、写真を確認しました。

Tina11

The plate was clear, so I sent it to the police.

ナンバーがはっきり写っていたので、写真を警察に送りました。

Lawyer12

Before he left, did he say anything to you?

立ち去る前に、男はあなたに何か言いましたか?

Tina13

He said, "Thank you." And I told him, "Have a nice day."

「ありがとう」って。私も「よい一日を」って言っちゃいました。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“Let's stick to what you saw.”

Here stick to means to stay within a topic and discuss only that. It is a familiar courtroom request to report what was actually observed rather than speculate. The lawyer redirects Tina after she says she thought the person was a delivery worker. In B1-42, stick to instead means to keep following a plan.