So innoecent people never plead "guilty"?

[honestbroker1]

Oh yes they do.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50741916

Sub post office manager Jo Hamilton pleaded guilty to a less serious charge of 'false accounting' to escape a more serious charge of 'theft', even though, as has (now) been established beyond doubt, she was completely innocent of all charges.

Without, in any sense, wishing to diminish the shocking impact of the enormity visited upon Jo Hamilton, still, it pales by comparison with the enormity of being falsely accused -- as the McCanns were -- of murdering, yes, murdering, their own daughter.

(sic):

After a distressing two-year process, she [Jo Hamilton] eventually pleaded guilty to false accounting at Winchester Crown Court in order to escape a more serious charge of theft.