Should I just plead guilty?

You should only ever plead guilty if the following factors are present. You are:

1. guilty of the offence you have been charged with;
2. the Crown prosecutor can prove every elements of the offence you are charged with; and
3. you receive some consideration for entering the guilty plea

I strongly advise that you speak to a lawyer before entering such a plea. When entering such a plea you are giving up your right to have a trial and giving up your right to have the Crown prosecutor prove the case against you. A lawyer can discuss your options by determining the strengths and weaknesses of the Crown’s case in greater detail, the likelihood of success for the Crown, and will be able to assist you by determining an appropriate sentence given the circumstances of the case should you move forward with a guilty plea. Ultimately, it is the sitting judge that has the final say on sentencing but as your lawyer I promise to put forward the strongest submission possible to the court to better achieve the most appropriate and just outcome.