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Speak Up! - View Question #647 |
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Question: Can you change your plead during the middle of a murder trial?
Answer: Yes, before the jury announces its verdict, a defendant may plead guilty to the
court. However, in many cases, the defendant may not be able to plead guilty with
the "plea bargain" that the State previously offered. In some jurisdictions,
the prosecutor will put a time limit on when the defendant may receive a plea
bargain to reduce the charge and/or sentence. Typically, that offer will expire
before the trial begins. If that is the case and the defendant still wants to
plead guilty during the trial, then he would have to plead "straight up."
That means he would have to plead guilty to all the charges and the sentencing
enhancements (which increase the range of punishment) that the prosecutor has
alleged and filed with the Court.
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On 01/05/04
Jen from NY said:
No, because John Joubert (killed two boys in Nebraska) plead guilty and was subsequently executed, regardless of his confession.
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On 11/10/03
JT from SC said:
I always though if you pleaded guilty to a murder you would get life and if you made the court prove your guilt you would get the death pently. Now I am not a lawyer and do not event think I could start to recite all the laws we have on the books. I do how ever think there are many out dated laws that should be repealed and updated to meet the structure of today's living.
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