Six of accused G20 leaders hope to make plea bargain to spare others
Posted November 22, 2011 7:12 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Six of the seventeen accused ringleaders of the violent G20 protests are due in court today, but as the Toronto Star reports, six are hoping to make a plea deal that will let the other eleven walk free.
The deal would see six of the alleged co-conspirators, who were all originally charged with conspiracy, enter a guilty plea to the lesser crime of counselling to commit an indictable offence.
By taking the hit for the other accused, the six could potentially face jail-time while the other eleven accused would walk free. Two of those six are also expected to plead guilty to an additional charge of counselling to obstruct police.
The Toronto Star reports the recommended sentences vary between six months and twenty months in jail, and the accused would likely receive credit for jail time already served, which in some cases has already been months in jail or under house arrest.
The six accused told The Star they intend to appear at the Finch Avenue courthouse today and enter a joint submission for a plea deal with the Crown.
The deal could still be quashed should one of the accused back out or should the judge decide to not accept the bargain.
