What's the difference if you plead guilty??

[the_bob_delusion]

Say you committed a crime. You have to plead guilty or not guilty.

What's really the difference between if you go to trial and be found guilty vs admitting you're guilty to start off with.

Do you get a more lenient sentence or something???

If not, wouldn't you be better off pleading not guilty and see how it plays out in trial.

[cherry*135]

Some people (like that male that murdered Jill Meagher) have to much evidence stacked up against them right from the beginning to plead not guilty?

[the_bob_delusion]

but why not try his luck. Maybe the investigation stuft up and he gets out on a technicality???

People clearly guilty with plenty of evidence going against them still go thru trial all the time. So why don't they all plead not guilty unless you're treated more leniently. But I don't know if the latter is true or not? anyone know??

[janeababe]

ahh, well, legally I dont know, but my thoughts would be that if you plead guilty, then you take ownership of the crime you have been charged with. Lets say *murder*

If you plead not guilty, then it has to be PROOVED that you commited the crime, but there could be a possibility that there might not be sufficient evidence to put you away, or the jury might not agree with each others verdict, or there could be a mistrial... many number of things really...

personally, i wouldnt be able to live with myself if i pleaded not guilty to a crime i knew damn well i committed.... but i would never plead guilty to something i didnt do!

(i have always wanted to steal a car... i would NEVER do it, but i have always had an inner desire to be REAL naughty and do it! LOL)  I was probably a car theif in  a past life or something! ha! ... but i get all nervy if there is a cop car driving behind me in traffic, so stealing a car is way out of my depth of courage....  (very much a good thing too! LOL)

[cherry*135]

ADRIAN Ernest Bayley has pleaded guilty to murdering ABC staffer Jill Meagher.

Bayley, 41, this afternoon admitted to the crime in the Victorian Supreme Court.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of raping the 29-year old woman.

Bayley was remanded in custody for a plea hearing on June 11.

What is a plea hearing?. Now that he has pleaded guilty to murder & rape is he going to put up a plea for a lesser sentence?

[**meep**]

What is a plea hearing?. Now that he has pleaded guilty to murder & rape is he going to put up a plea for a lesser sentence?

Possibly.  That's what I was going to ask..

[clair.de.lune]

That's not refraining from posting meep

[*crikey*mate*]

if you are guilty, and your lawyer knows you are guilty, the lawyer can't go into court and plead not guilty.

if you plead guilty, it saves court time (and prosecution money) and is possibly a sign of you being ready to take responsibility for your crimes and hence a higher chance of rehabilitation. This possibly leads to a less severe sentence (usually parole periods and their outcomes are affected too), as this is taken into account.

[the_bob_delusion]

ahh, well, legally I dont know, but my thoughts would be that if you plead guilty, then you take ownership of the crime you have been charged with. Lets say *murder*

If you plead not guilty, then it has to be PROOVED that you commited the crime, but there could be a possibility that there might not be sufficient evidence to put you away, or the jury might not agree with each others verdict, or there could be a mistrial... many number of things really...

personally, i wouldnt be able to live with myself if i pleaded not guilty to a crime i knew damn well i committed.... but i would never plead guilty to something i didnt do!

(i have always wanted to steal a car... i would NEVER do it, but i have always had an inner desire to be REAL naughty and do it! LOL)  I was probably a car theif in  a past life or something! ha! ... but i get all nervy if there is a cop car driving behind me in traffic, so stealing a car is way out of my depth of courage....  (very much a good thing too! LOL)

If you have rape and kill someone would you really care about ownership and self respect anyways.

If you're gonna get life for pleading guilty you might as well roll the dice since you have nothing to lose right???

[*crikey*mate*]

"The plea hearing is an opportunity for both the prosecution and defence to present information that they want the judge to take into account when deciding on the sentence."

http://www.opp.vic.gov.au/Witnesses-and-Victims/The-Court-Process/The-plea-hearing