What if the accused pleads guilty?


You may be relieved that the accused has pleaded guilty and has accepted responsibility for the murder and that you will not have to go through the trial process. 

The judge will set a date for the sentencing. You are allowed to attend the sentencing and may want to prepare and present a Victim Impact Statement.

You may also have mixed emotions about not attending a trial

Even though there was a guilty plea, you may still wish there had been a trial. There may be questions about the murder and the last moments in the life of your loved one that you feel might have been answered if there had been a trial. You might have wanted to see the accused face to face to assess for yourself what this person is like. Even though the accused has pleaded guilty, you may not find that totally satisfying. You may find yourself still seeking some sort of “justice.”


Mennonite Central Committee Canada. (2011). Getting through the maze: A guidebook for survivors of homicide.


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