In other words, the defense lawyers are claiming the prosecution has promised leniency to the witnesses many of whom have plead guilty to related charges.

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The government, as they do in every case, discussed possible agreements to have a defendant plead guilty.

FORBES: Doing Life For A White-Collar Crime - The Tale of Christian Allmendinger

Six of the men have entered not guilty pleas, two are to plead at a later date while another man refused to enter a plea.

BBC: S African whites face treason trial

Plans to halve sentences for offenders who plead guilty early have been dropped.

BBC: Legal Aid Bill part two

Three Colombians at the center of the Union Bank of California saga have been extradited to the U.S. and are set to plead guilty in federal court in Miami early Tuesday, a court document shows.

FORBES: Dirty Dineros

Had Swartz chosen to plead not guilty, the offer of six months in jail would have evaporated.

FORBES: Aaron Swartz and the Corrupt Practice of Plea Bargaining

Mr Rideau's lawyers have hinted at a deal in which their client will plead guilty and be sentenced to the amount of time he has already served.

ECONOMIST: Louisiana faces up to the old question

The wheels of his capital prosecution have now been set in motion after the offer made by Holmes' defense counsel to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of life imprisonment without the chance of parole was rejected by Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler.

CNN: Why death penalty for Holmes wouldn't bring justice

Defence solicitors have said the proposals are unworkable and will create the possibility that innocent people will plead guilty because they cannot afford to go to trial.

BBC: Lawyers stage court boycott in legal aid row