PROCEDURES OF THE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM On the night of Friday, January 23, 2015 at 11:45 P.M. Mrs. Susan Johnson, 37, and her husband Robert, 42, were asleep in the second floor bedroom of their home at 579 Maple Lane in Bamberg, South Carolina. Suddenly, they were awoken by a loud crash from downstairs. Mr. Johnson jumped from the bed and grabbed his pistol from his nightstand drawer and crept downstairs to investigate the cause of the disturbance. His wife followed closely behind. They began a thorough search of the house, but found nothing out of the ordinary. However, once they entered the kitchen, they just had time to notice that pots, pans, and cutlery were strewn across the floor beside a fallen cabinet before being suddenly attacked by a large man who lunged out from his hiding place in the pantry with a large knife. The knife caught Mr.
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PLEA BARGAINING The defendant’s lawyer attempted plea bargaining with the prosecution due to the excessive evidence against his case and implored Wilson to plead guilty to robbery, breaking and entering, and trespassing in exchange for the prosecution not charging him with murder or assault and battery. However, Wilson was indignant in keeping with his account of the incident and continued to plead not guilty.
ARRAIGNMENT After the indictment by the grand jury, Judge Brown recited the formal charges to the courtroom and asked the defendant how he pleaded. Wilson could plead guilty and be immediately sentenced. He could plead nolo contendre, or no contest, where he indirectly pleads guilty, gives up his rights to a defense, and is immediately sentenced. Finally, he could plead not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity and go to a trail. Wilson stood firm in his belief that his account of what happened was the truth and pleaded not guilty.
PLEA BARGAINING The defendant’s lawyer attempted plea bargaining with the prosecution due to the excessive evidence against his case and implored Wilson to plead guilty to robbery, breaking and entering, and trespassing in exchange for the prosecution not charging him with murder or assault and battery. However, Wilson was indignant in keeping with his account of the incident and continued to plead not guilty.
ARRAIGNMENT After the indictment by the grand jury, Judge Brown recited the formal charges to the courtroom and asked the defendant how he pleaded. Wilson could plead guilty and be immediately sentenced. He could plead nolo contendre, or no contest, where he indirectly pleads guilty, gives up his rights to a defense, and is immediately sentenced. Finally, he could plead not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity and go to a trail. Wilson stood firm in his belief that his account of what happened was the truth and pleaded not guilty.