“pervert the course of justice”是法律领域的核心术语,字面直译为“歪曲司法程序的走向”,通常意译为:
该短语强调通过主动行为破坏司法系统的正常运行,导致正义无法实现。其中:
pervert:动词,意为“歪曲、扭曲(原本正确/正常的事物)”;
course of justice:固定搭配,指“司法过程”(如调查、起诉、审判等法定程序)。
作为及物动词短语(主语通常为人),常用于描述故意干扰司法的行为,常见搭配和场景如下:
被指控/起诉:be charged with / be accused of perverting the course of justice
实施罪行:commit the act of perverting the course of justice
承认罪行:admit to perverting the course of justice
该短语覆盖所有故意干扰司法的行为,常见例子包括:
向警方/法庭撒谎(lying to police/court);
伪造/销毁证据(fabricating/destroying evidence);
威胁/贿赂证人/陪审员(intimidating/bribing witnesses/jurors);
误导调查(misleading investigations);
隐瞒关键信息(withholding crucial information)。
1、 基础句:
He was charged with perverting the course of justice by lying about his whereabouts on the night of the crime.
(他因在案发当晚的行踪上撒谎,被指控妨碍司法公正。)
2、 具体行为:
The witness was accused of perverting the course of justice after changing his testimony to protect the suspect.
(证人因修改证词保护嫌疑人,被指控妨碍司法公正。)
3、 复合罪行:
The politician was found guilty of both corruption and perverting the course of justice to cover up his crimes.
(这位政客被判犯有腐败罪和妨碍司法公正罪,后者用于掩盖其罪行。)
4、 承认罪行:
She admitted to perverting the course of justice by hiding the murder weapon in her basement.
(她承认将凶器藏在地下室,妨碍了司法公正。)
与“obstruct justice”(阻碍司法)高度相近,但侧重略有不同:
pervert the course of justice:更强调“歪曲”(将司法程序引向错误方向,如撒谎导致错判);
obstruct justice:更强调“阻碍”(直接阻止司法进程,如拒绝配合调查)。
在多数语境中两者可互换,但法律文本中“pervert...”更正式,更强调“对司法结果的扭曲”。
这是严重的刑事罪行(多数国家法律中属于重罪),处罚通常包括监禁;
常见于法庭判决、新闻报道、法律文件等正式语境。
综上,“pervert the course of justice”是描述“故意干扰司法程序以逃避或扭曲正义”的专业表达,核心是“主动破坏司法的公正性”。