当地时间22日，章莹颖的家人在美国召开了新闻发布会。
“章莹颖，女，26岁，伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校（UIUC）访问学生。于当地时间2017年6月9日中午失联。”
在章莹颖失踪的70多天里，读者们对这句话已经太熟悉了。毕竟，该案已经成为维基百科词条。
章莹颖的家人在发布会上说：
“FBI的工作方式是对案件的细节会进行保密，不会对家人做公布……在搜集证据方面，警方和检方已经获取一些突破和进展，但是在搜寻方面，我们还没有听到任何重大的突破和进展。”
当地警察局公告上对于事件进展的解释
章莹颖的男友侯霄霖表达了自己的无奈：
“在一个陌生的国家，我们并不熟悉当地的法律，习俗和文化，我们完全理解和尊重他们的方式。但是对于我们来说，这一过程太漫长，我们不知道我们何去何从。我们不知道哪里是尽头，我们感到很无助。”
那么，侯霄霖所说的“不熟悉的当地法律”到底是什么样的？
中国日报邀请纽约大学法学院法学博士、美国成美律所合伙人柳治平律师结合对此案的分析，为大家普及一些美国法律常识。
柳治平律师说：
“刑事法律都试图平衡被告的个人权利、政府的执法权威、社会利益包括受害人及其家属要求的相关诉求。每一个法律体系的侧重不同，也因此有各自的利弊得失。”
“The laws try to balance the constitutional rights of the defendant, the legitimate interests of the State and to some extent of the victim and her family. Different law systems have different emphasizes, and as a result have different advantages.”
章莹颖案白宫请愿书
章莹颖，女，26岁，伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校（UIUC）中国访问学生。于当地时间2017年6月9日中午前往One North公寓签约，之后失联。
Zhang Yingying, female, aged 26, was a Chinese visiting student at University of Illinois Urbana Champagne (UIUC). At noon local time on June 9, 2017, Zhang Yingying was on her way to sign an apartment lease, but she was not to be seen by anybody ever since.
克里斯滕森（Brendt Christensen），28岁，美国白人男子，伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳香槟分校物理学博士生，为该案嫌疑人。
Brendt Christensen, aged 28, a white Ph.D. student attending University of Illinois Urbana Champagne, has been indicted for kidnapping Zhang Yingying.
章莹颖失踪的一个半月中，地方警力、FBI的侦破行动有这样几个关键的时间点：
6月12日，警察从数据库中查找与接走章莹颖相同车型的汽车，并询问了Christensen，也就是当地18位美国欧宝-土星汽车车主之一，Christensen说他6月9日整天都在睡觉和打游戏；
On June 12th, the police searched databases to match a specific model to the car that picked up Zhang Yingying. They then interviewed Christensen, one of the eighteen local Saturn Astra car owners. In the interview, Christensen claimed that on June 9th, he spent the whole day sleeping and playing games.
6月14日，警察注意到Christensen的车有一个破裂的轮毂，与接走章莹颖的车情况相同，而后法院授权警察去搜查车辆；
On June 14th, after the police noticed that Christensen’s car, like the car from the security footage that Zhang Yingying stepped into, had a broken hubcap, the court authorized the police to search the vehicle.
6月16日，掌握较多证据的FBI开始电子监控Christensen；
On June 16th, FBI started to conduct electronic surveillance against Christensen.
6月29日FBI监听到Christensen在电话中讲述他绑架并囚禁章莹颖的过程；
On June 29th, FBI overheard Christensen on the phone explaining how he had kidnapped Zhang Yingying and held her against her will in his home.
6月30日，Christensen因涉嫌绑架章莹颖被捕；
On June 30th, Christensen was arrested.
7月3日，Christensen第一次出庭，并保持沉默；
On July 3rd, Christensen appeared in court for the first time and kept his silence.
7月5日，法官认为Christensen对社会构成潜在危害，裁定嫌疑人不得取保候审；
On July 5th, the judge denied the bail petition by Christensen.
7月12日，联邦大陪审团以绑架罪起诉嫌疑人Christensen；
On July 12th, Christensen was indicted by grand jury for kidnapping.
7月20日，嫌疑人Christensen过堂，并坚持其无罪辩护；联邦法官宣布，该案暂定的庭审日期定于9月12日。
On July 20th, Christensen was arraigned and he pled not guilty to the kidnapping charge. A federal judge then scheduled a provisional trial date for September 12th.
柳治平介绍说：
在美国，刑事案件中的被告有权享有“无罪推定”，检察官必须举证证明他有罪；
In the United States, defendants in criminal cases are presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty by the prosecutor beyond reasonable doubt.
根据“美国宪法第五修正案”，刑事案件中的被告不能被迫成为自己的证人自证其罪；被告有权保持沉默，拒绝回答可能导致他们戴罪的问题，一般而言，被告不必因此而受惩罚。
The defendant could also invoke his rights against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, i.e., he has the right to remain silent and refuse to answer any self-incriminating questions, and usually can do so without suffering from any penalty.
柳治平解释说：
“在搜查或逮捕犯罪嫌疑人之前，检察官与警方必须在法院获得搜查令，要向法院证明警官们知晓的具体的事实本身足够让一个合理地审慎的人相信：犯罪赚疑人犯罪了。这个标准高于‘合理的嫌疑’，但是低于刑事定罪的‘没有合理疑问的确定性’的标准。在处理任何刑事案件时，政府必须尊重被告的上述宪法权利。”
“Before conducting any search of the home or the assets of the suspect or arresting the suspect, the police usually must obtain a warrant from the court. For a warrant to be issued, the police shall provide enough specific facts to convince a reasonable person that there is probable cause that the suspect committed the crime. This standard is higher than ‘reasonable suspicion,’ but lower than ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ which is required for a criminal conviction.”
柳治平说：
“某种程度来说，被告享有的这些权利会束缚政府，降低案件的侦查效率，有时甚至可能会改变刑事案件的结果，但这是美国社会为其选择遵守的宪法原则付出的代价。”
“To a certain extent, these rights of the defendant hinder the government’s effort to investigate any criminal case, apprehend and prosecute the accused, and occasionally they may even operate to alter the outcome of a criminal case. However, this is the price that that United States chooses to pay in order to reduce the probability of malicious prosecutions and wrongful convictions of innocent civilians.”
柳治平律师介绍了在美国联邦法框架下，一个刑事案件在几个核心的程序步骤：
检察官指控（criminal complaint/charge）
本案中，6月30号的指控书的结尾说：“基于6月30号时候章同学仍然失联，还有本案调查中发现的其他事实，执法部门不相信章同学还活着”。也就是说，章莹颖生还概率理论上存在，现实上很低。
In this case, the end of the June 30th criminal complaint read: “As of June 30, 2017, Zhang Yingying remains missing. Based on this, and other facts uncovered during the investigation of this matter, law enforcement does not believe that Zhang Yingying is still alive.” This means that Zhang Yingying may still be alive, but the odds of that is very low.
大陪审团指控（grand jury indictment）
本案中，7月12日联邦大陪审团起诉了嫌疑人。
In this case, the grand jury indicted the suspect on July 12th.
联邦大陪审团由至多23名普通民众组成，至少16人出席大陪审团程序，至少12人投赞成票，其决定才有效。
A federal grand jury consists of at most 23 ordinary civilians. For it to conduct any business, at least 16 jurors must be present; at least 12 jurors must vote for any indictment for it to be legally valid.
过堂（arraignment）
本案中，7月20日嫌疑人过堂。
In this case, the suspect was arraigned on July 20th.
被告被大陪审团指控后，法官正式当面告知被告政府对他的刑事指控。这个程序上，被告必须认罪（plead guilty）或者不认罪（not guilty）。
During the arraignment, a judge shall formally explain to the defendant the specific criminal charges brought against him by the government. During this procedure, the defendant will either plead guilty or not guilty.
柳治平说：
“这个程序象征意义大于实质。几乎没有被告会不行使其抗辩权利、庭审权利，不争取辩控交易，而照单全收认罪伏法的。”
“This procedure is more symbolic than substantive. A defendant usually will not plead guilty to all the charges, because by doing so he will lose the right to an open trial where he can assert any potential defenses, and lose the opportunity for any plea bargain.”
过堂之后，庭审之前，如果双方同意，被告可以认更轻的罪，或者同意给予政府某种配合（比如作为政府证人帮助政府控告其他情节更严重的嫌疑人），换取更轻的惩罚，这叫辩控交易（plea bargain）。
After the arraignment but before the trial, if both parties agree, the defendant may plead guilty to some lesser charges by agreeing to cooperate with the government, for example, to serve as a witness for the government against co-conspirators. This is called a “plea bargain.”
柳治平说：
“双方讨价还价，实际效果类似于坦白从宽，抗拒从严。被告如果认罪的话，被告失去庭审的权利，不得上诉。”
“If the defendant pleads guilty, then the defendant loses the right to a trial and to an appeal.”
“事实上美国90%以上的刑事案件都通过辩控交易结案的。对于被告来说，不接受合理的辩控交易的风险是：要面对庭审，之后如果被定罪，一般将面临更高处罚。对于检察官来说，不给予被告合理的辩控交易的风险是：进入庭审之后如果被告没有被定罪，那检察官的职业声名受损，特别是案子已经受到公众关注。”
“In fact, over 90% of all criminal cases in the United States have been settled through plea bargains. The defendant assumes significant risk if he does not accept a reasonable plea bargain, such as facing higher penalties if he goes to trial and gets convicted. On the other hand, the prosecutor assumes significant risk if he does not offer a reasonable plea bargain. For one, his reputation will suffer, especially for cases that have aroused public attention.”
如果没有达成辩控交易，下一步是庭审。
If there is no plea bargain, then the case will move on to trial.
庭审（Trial）
庭审分法官审（bench trial）和陪审团审（jury trial）两种。被告按照联邦宪法规定，有权决定是法官审还是陪审团审。如果决定庭审，检察官要将证据与被告律师分享，以让对方准备庭审。
Trials are divided into two categories: bench trials and jury trials. The defendant has the constitutional right to a jury trial. Prior to the trial, the prosecutor will share the evidence with the defendant’s lawyer to prepare for the defense.
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如果是陪审团审，由普通百姓中筛选出来的12人陪审团按照合法进入庭审的证据和证词，认定事实。法官主要作用是一个裁判，在辩方和检察官的对抗过程中，裁定哪些证据证人证词可以进入庭审。法官另外一个作用是向陪审团全体成员解释法律；陪审团不理解，有疑问时候能问法官。
If it is a jury trial, 12 jurors, selected from the general public, shall evaluate the evidence and make the factual findings of the case. The judge decides on what evidences or testimonies are admissible into the trial. The judge also explains the applicable law to the grand jury. If the jury has any question, they may ask the judge to elaborate. The jury cannot ask the prosecutor or the defense lawyer any question.
陪审团适用法官解释的法律于陪审团自己认定的事实，一般情况下全体一致认定原告是否构成犯罪。陪审团不能与被告辩护律师或者检察官问答，或者其他形式互动。陪审团不能不经法院批准，擅自试图获得其他证据、造访当事人、察看犯罪现场。
The jury applies the law and the fact as they find it to be and reach a verdict. A jury verdict usually has to be unanimous... The jury shall not obtain other evidence without the court’s approval, consult with either party, or visit the scene of the crime.
如果12名庭审陪审团成员没有达成一致，庭审宣告无效；但这不意味着被告无罪，而是由法庭重开审判，一般直到有一个12平民构成的陪审团对于被告的罪与非罪达成一致。
If the jury of twelve cannot reach an agreement, it results in a mistrial. This does not mean that the defendant is not guilty, as it only means there will be a retrial until 12 jurors arrive at a unanimous verdict of guilty or not guilty.
如果陪审团裁定被告无罪，庭审法官不得推翻无罪裁定，即使庭审法官认为无罪裁定法理上不可能成立。如果陪审团裁定被告有罪，而庭审法官认为有罪裁定法理上不可能成立，庭审法官可以搁置此有罪裁定；但是这时检察官可以上诉，上诉法院可以驳回庭审法官的无罪裁定。
If the jury finds the defendant not guilty, the judge may not set aside the verdict, even if he believes that the jury verdict cannot stand as a matter of law. If the jury finds the defendant guilty, but the judge believes that the guilty verdict cannot stand as a matter of law, then the judge can set aside the jury’s guilty verdict; but the prosecutor may appeal the judge’s holding.
上诉（Appeal）
被告被定罪后，可以在限定时间内提起上诉。
A defendant may appeal within a limited period of time after he is convicted.
量刑（Sentencing）
一般而言，定罪或者认罪后的90天量刑。
Generally speaking, sentencing occurs within 90 days of conviction or plea of guilty.
目前，章莹颖案刚刚经过了“过堂”环节，在9月12日庭审之前，现在被告很可能正在和检察官进行辩控交易的谈判。
柳治平说：
“被告可能试图以交代遗体下落为筹码，同时认绑架罪，换取检察官放弃以谋杀起诉被告，并逃脱绑架罪的最高惩罚，也就是终身监禁，而是获得比如15年有期徒刑。如果联邦调查局找不到遗体，而来自各方面破案定罪的压力大，(虽然理论上执法部门不应该受社会舆论影响)，检察官有可能妥协，至少这样可以确保被告不会脱离罪责。”
“The defendant might tell where Zhang’s body is and plead guilty of kidnapping in exchange that the inquisitor give up prosecuting him of murdering, and try to get a sentence of a set term of imprisonment instead of the highest punishment of kidnapping, that is life imprisonment. If FBI can’t locate the body, in this case, under the pressure from all the sides, the inquisitor might compromise, so that it’s ensured that the defendant won’t get rid of all the punishment.”
柳律师建议各方在关注本案，声援支持章同学家人的同时，要注意不要给执法部门不当的压力。他认为大家从各方面支持配合联邦调查局和检察官继续尽力耐心工作是上策，也鼓励有专业能力或者相关信息能帮助执法部门的人士私下联系联邦调查局。
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在7月20日的过堂中，犯罪嫌疑人Christiensen坚持无罪辩护。
该案件的审判将于9月12日进行。
（来源：中国日报双语新闻编辑部）
