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)