WHAT

[karohemd]

"Mr de Menezes was killed instantly. He could hardly have had an opportunity to appreciate was happening."

ETA: Yes, I know that "to appreciate" has several meanings but the one intended here is not one I immediately think of.

Comments

[chrisvenus]

Surely that is relevant. The whole point is they were shooting him before he could set off a bomb. If he was aware of what was happening he would have blown everybody up (potentially)... It does seem to be a little out of context there but I suspect that is edited quotes rather than continuous quoting...

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

My issue is more the wording than the content of the quote. I probably wouldn't use "to appreciate" in this way, although it's one of its meanings but it goes more commonly with something positive.

[chrisvenus]

Yeah, I see what you mean. In the formal kind of way he is talking though it feels right to me. I dunno though. :)

In a legal environment...

[will-sample.livejournal.com]

...it is the standard contextual meaning for 'appreciate'; mind, it's not the most typical connotation for common daily usage for most people.

Think of it this way; a judge asks defendants if they appreciate what they stand accused of having done; juries are asked to appreciate what the law states in deliberation of potential verdicts; thus, a police inquiry will likely use appreciate in such a fashion.

[whiskeylover.livejournal.com]

...which goes nicely into the question of "Is there a language of the law", which I was lecturing on not so long ago... ;)

Perfectly normal use of the wort 'appreciate' in the given situation.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

*nods* It was simply my gut reaction, thinking "No, I wouldn't appreciate being shot in the head, either."