Language Activator – Guilty

Guilty/responsible/culpable

guilty

if someone is guilty of a crime, he or she is the person that did it

.The guilty were each given a life sentence

find somebody guilty

decide in a law court that someone is guilty

.The jury found Sewell guilty and he was sent to prison

guilty of murder/rape/a crime etc

.A 23-year-old woman was found guilty of murder in the Central Court today

guilty of doing something

.Davis was found guilty of abducting and killing Polly Klaas

plead guilty

say in a law court that you are guilty of a crime

responsible

if someone is responsible for a crime, accident, or mistake, they did it or made it happen

.The other driver was responsible for the accident, and he should pay for the damage

responsible for

culpable

guilty of causing something bad to happen, especially because you did not do anything to prevent it – used especially in formal or legal contexts

?If people develop smoking-related diseases, are they or the tobacco companies culpable

:Practice

:Fill in the blanks with appropriate words

N1. Lawyers are debating whether allowing a terminally ill patient to die amounts to ………….homicide a legal decision that someone was criminally guilty of the death
.N2. Police believe a local gang is…………. for the recent burglaries
.N3. Mrs Williams says that the hospital was ……………..for her husband’s death
.N4. Roberts …………..guilty to driving without insurance

:Answers

Culpable/ responsible/ responsible/ pleaded