Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2019 June 17

= June 17 =

Change of plea from Guilty to Not Guilty
In the case seen here: https://www.dfa.co.za/news/twist-in-child-porn-case-26228161  What would the point be of changing your plea to not guilty after you have already been found guilty, surely this would worsen your sentencing? Thanks Anton 81.131.40.58 (talk) 12:47, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * from your link: "his previous legal representative compelled him to plead guilty.". This seems a good enough reason to change, isn't it? Even if, most certainly, the previous legal representative was right to push the guilty plea, and it is a bad idea to enter a not guilty plea. Gem fr (talk) 20:34, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Possibly to preserve the right to appeal on the grounds of having inadequate legal representation. I think in at least some legal systems you can only appeal a criminal verdict if you plead "not guilty". Admittedly I'm not too familiar with South African law. --47.146.63.87 (talk) 08:00, 18 June 2019 (UTC)