When a man walked into a police station in London, claiming 1__________ be suffering from amnesia, he told officers, 'I think I am a missing person.' He apparently had no 2_____________ of his whereabouts or events over the previous five years. 3______________ police didn't initially realise was that the man in front of them was in 4__________ John Darwin, 'the missing canoe man'.
When John Darwin, a married father 5__________ two, initially 6_________ missing five years previously, a massive search and 7__________ mission was launched along the northeast coast of the UK, near to where he 8__________ last seen. Prison officer John Darwin 9__________ been spotted paddling out to sea with his kayak early in the morning on 21st March, but it was only when he failed 10_________ arrive 11___________ work for a night 12_____________ that evening that the 13____________ was raised. The rescue teams searched extensively, but to 14_________ avail.
Several weeks later, when the shattered 15___________ of John's kayak were found washed 16_________ on the beach, John Darwin presumed 17__________. More than a year later, his wife threw flowers into the sea to 18___________ the anniversary of her husband's disappearance. At an inquest, the 19___________ recorded an open verdict, which allowed the family to 'move on'. However, 20_______ trace of Mr Darwin's body was ever found.
On his reappearance in London, his family were informed. His two sons, Mark and Anthony, were thrilled 21____________ be reunited with their father. And his wife Anne - who had sold 22__________ her properties in England and moved to Panama three months before his reappearance - expressed surprise, joy and elation 23______________ the return of her missing husband.
However, nobody could have predicted what would 24_________ to light over the following days. When John Darwin appeared at the police station, he claimed 25_________ loss, but 26_____________ he appeared both fit and well, and he was also suntanned (a little unusual for December in the UK). An investigation was immediately launched into his disappearance.
PART 2
An investigation was immediately launched into his disappearance. Five days later, John Darwin was arrested on 27____________ of fraud and deception. A photograph, published in a tabloid newspaper, revealed that Mr and Mrs Darwin had been seen together in Panama and had bought a house there together.
It turned 28____________ that Mr Darwin had planned the whole disappearance from the beginning after finding 29_________ in financial difficulty. On the day of the 'disappearance', Mr Darwin had in fact pushed his kayak out to sea and later returned home to his wife. What he did then was spend the next few years hiding inside the house and rarely leaving. When visitors came, Mr Darwin supposedly hid in the neighbouring house, 30____________ was also theirs, escaping through a hole he had made in the wall of an upstairs bedroom. He changed his appearance, spent a lot of time on the internet and applied for a passport under a false name.
Mr and Mrs Darwin travelled to Greece and then to Panama, looking for opportunities to start a new life together, while Mrs Darwin 31__________ up the pretence that her husband was dead to her friends, colleagues and two sons. When Mrs Darwin received the life insurance money taken out in her husband's name, Mr Darwin moved to Panama, 32_________ he bought an apartment and waited for his wife to join him. When she finally managed to emigrate, they bought a £ 200,000 tropical estate and planned to start a hotel business selling canoe holidays. John Darwin finally returned to the UK, claiming that he was missing his sons and was 33_____________ up with living the deception.
In the 34____________, in the UK, several people had become suspicious. It was a colleague of Anne Darwin's who eventually put the pieces of the 35___________ together. She had overheard a conversation which Anne Darwin had had with her husband on the telephone before leaving 36_____________ Panama. She then typed the names 'Anne+John+Darwin+Panama' into Google images and found the photograph, which she later sent to the media and to the police.
John and Anne Darwin were both sentenced and 37__________ time in prison for fraud and deception. Their ill-gained 38_________ (money and property) were taken from them and their sons 39__________ to talk to either of them, claiming that they had been victims of the scam and they no longer wished to have any contact with their parents.
John Darwin was 40___________ from prison in January 2011 and Anne Darwin in March 2011. It is thought that they still have some assets hidden in Panama.
KEY
1 to
claim: to say that something is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it. E.g.:
claim (that)… He claims (that) he was not given a fair hearing.
claim (somebody/something) to be/do something I don't claim to be an expert.
claim something Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer.
it is claimed that… It was claimed that some doctors were working 80 hours a week.
amnesia: /æmˈniːziə/ a medical condition in which somebody partly or completely loses their memory.
2 recollection
recollection /ˌrekəˈlekʃn/ the ability to remember something; the act of remembering something. E.g.:
recollection (of doing something) I have no recollection of meeting her before.
recollection (of something) My recollection of events differs from his.
To the best of my recollection(= if I remember correctly) I was not present at that meeting.
whereabouts /ˈweərəbaʊts/ the place where somebody/ something is. E.g. His whereabouts are/ is still unknown.
3 What
4 fact
canoe: /kəˈnuː/
5 of
6 went
7 rescue
launch something: /lɔːntʃ/ to start an activity, especially an organized one. E.g. to launch an appeal/ an inquiry/ an investigation/ a campaign. To launch an attack/ invasion.
8 was
9 had
spot: to see or notice a person or thing, especially suddenly or when it is not easy to do so. E.g. spot somebody/something I finally spotted my friend in the crowd. I've just spotted a mistake on the front cover. Can you spot the difference between these two pictures? Her modelling career began when she was spotted at the age of 14. Spotting the disease early can save lives. Spot somebody/ something doing something Neighbours spotted smoke coming out of the house. Spot that… No one spotted that the gun was a fake. Spot what, where, etc… I soon spotted what the mistake was.
paddle: to move a small boat through water using a paddle. E.g. We paddled downstream for about a mile. We paddled the canoe along the coast.
paddle: (N) a short pole with a flat wide part at one or both ends, that you hold in both hands and use for moving a small boat, especially a canoe, through water.
10 to
fail: to not be successful in achieving something. Many diets fail because they are boring. E.g. fail in something I failed in my attempt to persuade her. Fail to do something She failed to get into art college.
11 at
12 shift
shift: a period of time worked by a group of workers who start work as another group finishes. E.g. to be on the day/ night shift at the factory. To work an eight-hour shift. Working in shifts. Shift workers/ work.
13 alarm
alarm: a loud noise or a signal that warns people of danger or of a problem. She decided to sound the alarm (= warn people that the situation was dangerous). I hammered on all the doors to raise the alarm (warn people that something bad is happening). By the time the alarm was raised the intruders had escaped.
extensively: /ɪkˈstensɪvli/ covering a large area. E.g. a spice used extensively in Eastern cooking. She has travelled extensively.
14 no
to little/no avail (formal) /əˈveɪl/ with little or no success. E.g. The doctors tried everything to keep him alive but to no avail.
of little/no avail (formal) of little or no use. E.g. Your ability to argue is of little avail if the facts are wrong.
15 remains
shatter: to suddenly break into small pieces; to make something suddenly break into small pieces. Shatter (into something) He dropped the vase and it shattered into pieces on the floor. The sound of shattering glass. Shatter something (into something) The explosion shattered all the windows in the building.
16 up
wash something up: to carry something onto land. E.g. The body was found washed up on a beach. Cargo from the wrecked ship was washed up on the shore.
Cargo: /ˈkɑːɡəʊ/ the goods carried in a ship or plane. E.g. The tanker began to spill its cargo of oil. A cargo ship.
17 dead
presume: /prɪˈzjuːm/ to accept that something is true until it is shown not to be true, especially in court. E.g. presume somebody/ something + adjective Twelve passengers are missing, presumed dead. In English law, a person is presumed innocent until proved guilty. Presume something We must presume innocence until we have proof of guilt. Presume somebody/ something to be/ have something We must presume them to be innocent until we have proof of guilt.
18 mark
19 coroner
inquest: /ˈɪŋkwest/ an official investigation to find out the cause of somebody's death, especially when it has not happened naturally. E.g. An inquest was held to discover the cause of death. Inquest (on/ into something) a coroner's inquest into his death. At the inquest they heard that the car had driven off after the accident.
coroner: /ˈkɒrənə(r)/ an official whose job is to discover the cause of any sudden, violent or suspicious death by holding an inquest.
record something| record that… to make an official or legal statement about something. E.g. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
verdict: /ˈvɜːdɪkt/ verdict (on something/somebody) a decision that you make or an opinion that you give about something, after you have tested it or considered it carefully. E.g. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
open verdict: an official decision in a British court stating that the exact cause of a person's death is not known. E.g. After the inquest, the coroner recorded an open verdict.
20 no
trace: a mark, an object or a sign that shows that somebody/ something existed or was present. Sp. rastro. E.g. It's exciting to discover traces of earlier civilizations. Police searched the area but found no trace of the escaped prisoners. Years of living in England had eliminated all trace of her American accent. The ship had vanished without (a) trace.
21 to
thrilled: very excited and pleased. E.g. thrilled (about/ at/ with something) He was thrilled at the prospect of seeing them again. Thrilled (to do something) I was thrilled to be invited. Thrilled (that…) (British English) She was thrilled to bits (= extremely pleased) that he'd been offered the job.‘Are you pleased?’ ‘I'm thrilled.’
22 up
sell up/ sell something up (especially British English) to sell your home, possessions, business, etc, usually because you are leaving the country or retiring. E.g. Ernest sold up and retired. The owners are selling up to a property developer and will retire rich.
23 at
elation: /iˈleɪʃn/ a feeling of great happiness and excitement. E.g. She felt a great sense of elation as she started on the journey. Richard’s elation at regaining his health was short-lived. She showed her elation at having finally achieved her ambition.
24 come
come to light to become known to people. E.g. New evidence has recently come to light.
25 memory
26 otherwise
launch something: /lɔːntʃ/ to start an activity, especially an organized one. E.g. to launch an appeal/ an inquiry/ an investigation/ a campaign. To launch an attack/ invasion.
Part 2
Vocabulary
27 suspicion
suspicion /səˈspɪʃn/ a feeling that somebody has done something wrong, illegal or dishonest, even though you have no proof. E.g. They drove away slowly to avoid arousing suspicion. He was arrested on suspicion of murder.
deception: /dɪˈsepʃn/ the act of deliberately making somebody believe something that is not true (= of deceiving them)E.g. He was accused of obtaining property by deception.
28 out
turn out: (used with an adverb or adjective, or in questions with how) to happen in a particular way; to develop or end in a particular way. Sp. resultar. E.g. Despite our worries everything turned out well. You never know how your children will turn out. + adjective If the day turns out wet, we may have to change our plans.
29 himself
30 which
31 kept
pretence: /prɪˈtens/ the act of behaving in a particular way, in order to make other people believe something that is not true. Sp. engaño. E.g. She was unable to keep up the pretence that she loved him. She said she was really pleased to see us, but I could tell it was just a pretence. She kept up the pretence that her husband was dead to her friends. We tried to keep up the pretence that everything was fine.
32 where
estate: a large area of land, usually in the country, that is owned by one person or family. E.g. a 3000-acre estate. She receives rent from all the people whose cottages are on estate land.
33 fed
34 meantime
suspicious /səˈspɪʃəs/
suspicious (of/about somebody/something) feeling that somebody has done something wrong, illegal or dishonest, without having any proof. E.g. They became suspicious of his behaviour and contacted the police. A suspicious look. You have a very suspicious mind (= you always think that people are behaving in an illegal or dishonest way).
35 puzzle
put the pieces of the puzzle together (also put the pieces together or also piece something together) to understand a story, situation, etc. by taking all the facts and details about it and putting them together. Slowly make sense of something from separate pieces of evidence. E.g. I'm going to try to put the pieces of the puzzle together in a way that will hopefully help you understand the sequence of the events that are involved here. Like a detective, she eventually put the pieces together. Daniel had pieced the story together from the radio. Police are trying to piece together the last hours of her life. The account of their journey has been pieced together from personal letters and diaries.
overhear: to hear, especially by accident, a conversation in which you are not involved. E.g. overhear somebody/ something We talked quietly so as not to be overheard. I overheard a conversation between two boys on the bus.
36 for
37 served
serve something to spend a period of time in prison. E.g. prisoners serving life sentences. She is serving two years for theft. He has served time (= been to prison) before.
do time (informal) to spend time in prison. E.g. he was doing time for fraud.
38 assets
ill-gained Obtained in an evil manner or by dishonest means. E.g. Bankers will give back ill-gained bonuses, don't you think?
asset: /ˈæset/ a thing of value, especially property, that a person or company owns. E.g. Her assets include shares in the company and a house in France.
39 refused
claim: to say that something is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it. E.g. claim (that)… He claims (that) he was not given a fair hearing.
scam: a clever and dishonest plan for making money. Sp. estafa, fraude, timo. E.g. an insurance scam.
40 released
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