We read in today's news that Jill Meagher's alleged killer will plead guilty to one count of rape but not guilty to two other counts of rape and a count of murder.
It can seem hard to imagine why or what the point is in such a tactic. At one level, he loses his chance to get leniency by pleading guilty, and maybe he thinks the Crown won't be able to prove the other charges.
Having said that, I think it is important that our legal system maintains the right of every accused to plead guilty and make the Crown prove the case. there is some force in the old adage "it is better for 10 guilty men to go free than one innocent man be found guilty".
It will be interesting to see how the trial goes.
It can seem hard to imagine why or what the point is in such a tactic. At one level, he loses his chance to get leniency by pleading guilty, and maybe he thinks the Crown won't be able to prove the other charges.
Having said that, I think it is important that our legal system maintains the right of every accused to plead guilty and make the Crown prove the case. there is some force in the old adage "it is better for 10 guilty men to go free than one innocent man be found guilty".
It will be interesting to see how the trial goes.