章莹颖案，凶手逃脱死刑
华裔学者被杀案，凶手逃脱死刑
In the U.S. state of Illinois, the dramatic close to a brutal kidnapping and murder case that’s made headlines around the world.
美国伊利诺伊州，这起惨烈的绑架和谋杀案已经成为世界各地的头条新闻。
Brendt Christensen will spend the rest of his life in jail, spared of the death penalty.
布伦特·克里斯滕森将在监狱度过余生，免于死刑。
It is his punishment for what he did to Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying back in 2017.
这是对他在2017年谋杀中国学者章莹颖的惩罚。
Arriving at Peoria Federal Courthouse one final time Brendt Christensen knew there was a chance the jury would decide his fate this day.
最后一次来到皮奥里亚联邦法院，布伦特·克里斯滕森知道陪审团有可能在今天决定他的命运。
And that it did. Having already found Christensen guilty of kidnapping and killing Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying, the jury had to decide whether Christensen would spend the rest of his life behind bars without parole or sentence him to death.
确实如此。陪审团已经认定克里斯滕森犯有绑架和杀害中国学者章莹颖的罪行，因此必须决定克里斯滕森是在监狱里度过余生，不得假释，还是判处死刑。
After more than eight hours of deliberation, the jury announced they could not reach a unanimous decision. So the lesser sentence was imposed. Christensen’s life would be spared.
经过八个多小时的审议，陪审团宣布他们不能达成一致的决定。所以判刑较轻。克里斯滕森的生命将得到挽救。
In the gallery, Christensen’s family hugged and wept in relief.
在走廊里，克里斯滕森的家人拥抱着，松了一口气哭了起来。
While Zhang's family sat in silence.
而章莹颖的家人静静地坐着。
The U.S. state of Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.
美国伊利诺伊州于2011年废除了死刑。
But as this was being tried in a Federal court, a death sentence could be imposed – but only if jurors unanimously agreed.
但由于这是在联邦法院进行的审判，可以判处死刑，但必须得到陪审团一致同意。
Christensen will now spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole.
克里斯滕森将在监狱里度过余生，不得假释。
Zhang Yingying disappeared on June 9, 2017. She was last seen getting into Christensen’s black Saturn Astra.
章莹颖于2017年6月9日失踪。她最后一次出现是在克里斯滕森的黑色轿车上。
Zhang Yingying's disappearance just over two years ago generated global headlines.
章莹颖两年多前的失踪引发了全球媒体的关注。
Although this chapter now comes to a close, for Zhang’s family, the pain of Christensen’s actions is not relieved.
虽然这一章已经接近尾声，但对章莹颖的家人来说，克里斯滕森的判决并没有减轻他们的痛苦。
Zhang’s body was never recovered.
章莹颖的尸体一直没有找到。
Christensen will now begin his life sentence. He will die in prison.
克里斯滕森现在将开始他的终身监禁。他将在监狱里死去。
For Zhang’s family, their loss remains immeasurable.
对于章莹颖的家人来说，他们的损失是无法估量的。
