Maybe he ran out of $'s & didn't make legal aid??? Soooooooooo sad
This is my big area of bafflement. I cant find the statement of Vic POL or the DPP accepting the plea, and in fact, that may well be what the plea hearing will be about, whether the Public Prosecutor will settle for that or refuse to and continue on with the trial.So is this a plea deal--are they dropping the charge of murder?
Prosecutors withdrew the murder charge and Ristevski entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter on Wednesday afternoon.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/po...dumping-body-in-bushland-20190313-p513vi.html
Ok then.. if that's been reported correctly, the DPP has withdrawn the murder charge. Why , I have no idea. Maybe it was an inability to pin down cause of death precisely. Even so.. At some stage, an explanation will be issued. Of this, I am certain.
I don't understand the reason for this??
Key to the stunning plea deal struck between prosecutors and defence was Justice Christopher Beale’s pre-trial ruling that police could not tell a jury about evidence of Ristevski’s conduct after her death to prove murderous intent.
Mr Hallowes told the pre-trial hearing there was no evidence of murderous intent from his client and that, instead, Ms Ristevski's death was more of a spontaneous killing.
Had he admitted killing her, he would have faced a substantial jail term and his relationship with the couple's daughter, Sarah, would have been irreparably damaged, Mr Hallowes said.
Prosecutors had pushed hard for a murder trial, saying Ristevski's deceitful behaviour after the killing gave rise to the required intent.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/...dumping-body-in-bushland-20190313-p513vi.html