Noisy neighbour faces the music

Source: Amir Doreh on Unsplash 

Pianist faces jail term over “psychological damage” caused to neighbor

A professional pianist is facing a seven-and-a-half-year jail sentence for playing her instrument eight hours a day, five days a week, according to her former neighbor in Puigcerdà, Girona. Prosecutors are seeking the sentence for crimes against the environment — acoustic contamination — and the psychological damage caused to Sonia B. between 2003 and 2007. Defense lawyers for the musician, Laia M., have asked that the case be thrown out, describing the complaint as “completely disproportionate.”

Both the defendant and her parents, who face the same sentence as accessories to the fact, deny the claims of Sonia B., who in turn stated that not only did Laia M.’s mother enter her apartment and concur that the sound of the piano was louder there than in her own home, but also that Laia M. had to be restrained by her father while attempting to hit the defendant. 

Medical reports state that Sonia B. suffered hearing damage, panic attacks and problems during her pregnancy as a result of the “environmental auditory stress.” Sonia B. and her family moved to Galicia in 2007.

Laia M. refutes the charges, stating that she could not have been playing the piano when Sonia B. claims, as she was studying outside of Puigcerdà. The defendants also said that they had attempted to soundproof the room containing the piano. 

In addition to the sentence, prosecutors are seeking to have Laia M. banned from any profession that involves a piano for four years, a fine of 10,800 euros and damages of 9,900 euros. The trial is expected to conclude this week.

Source: El País in English 

 

Vocabulary:

to face -

a jail term -

a sentence -

according to -

former (adj) -

#monarchy #Spain’s former king seeks immunity over claim he used spy agency to threaten ex-lover https://t.co/uZqopXAaqX

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) December 7, 2021

to throw out -

a complaint -

We wish to make a formal complaint and give further details of our experience with @Europcar_UK

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) September 9, 2020

a defendant -

to deny -

a claim -

Crowds flock to Spanish church after holy grail claim http://t.co/nn0EVZrG00 via @guardian

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) March 31, 2014

in turn -

to restrain -

a charge -

#WOTD CHARGE (v,n) - to ask for money for sth
e.g. How much do you CHARGE FOR classes?
e.g. He CHARGED ME €30 FOR delivery.
e.g. Calls are FREE OF CHARGE.

- to state officially that sb may be guilty of a crime
e.g. He WAS CHARGED WITH theft.
e.g. He was RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE. https://t.co/2tnJjPUlqN

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) March 31, 2020

to soundproof -

in addition to -

to ban -

#WOTD ban
(prohibición)
- The smoking ban came into force last year. (La prohibición .. se puso en vigor ..)

(prohibir)
- Plastic bags should be banned.
- The council is going to ban circuses with animals.
- He was banned from driving for 2 years. (le retiraron el carnet)

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) March 14, 2019

a fine -

a cold call = (una llamada de) telemarketing
a menace = una amenaza
at long last = por fin
huge= enorme
a fine = una multa
to stamp out = acabar con algo
rogue (adj) = corrupto
a firm = una empresa
an ad = an advert = un anuncio

Pronunciation:https://t.co/3NslAV3yiq pic.twitter.com/lGGFvZqzg0

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) May 30, 2018

damages -

a trial -

#WOTD TRIAL (n) - a legal process to decide if sb has committed a crime (juicio, proceso)
e.g. The actor is ON TRIAL FOR tax evasion.
e.g. He'll GO ON TRIAL for the murder of his neighbour.

- a test of stg new (prueba)
e.g. They've employed her for a six-month TRIAL PERIOD. pic.twitter.com/RO7FiPR3H7

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) February 9, 2020

Grammar Points:

"Not only did Laia M.’s mother enter her apartment and concur that the sound of the piano was louder there than in her own home, but also that Laia M. had to be restrained by her father while attempting to hit the defendant."

See other linkers for adding information.


"The trial is expected to conclude this week."

See other passives of reporting verbs.


Idiom:

to face the music - is to accept punishment or criticism for something that you have done wrong.

• Instead of going home and facing the music, her husband went with his friends to the pub.
• I think you'd better admit your mistake and just face the music.

What do you think should happen in this case?

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