Bold is mine-
ITA .I think they all should have gone to trial. The state has to spend lotsa money on trials- they prefer pleas- they push for pleas. They make it sound like you will be getting some great deal if you plea rather than taking it to trial but more often than not, pleas benefit them not you. They save money and time if you plea. You spend time if you plea.
I know I do this a lot but it's the only way to give an example of what I mean..
I fought my conviction for years- I was facing 15 years. My public defender kept pushing me to take a plea (12 years! ha!) I refused. It got to the point that I had to switch public defenders because he kept pushing me. They were pushing him so he was pushing me. but this is my life and I was not about to give up my right to a trial! See, public defenders don't get paid any more for going to trial but sometimes they get paid more if you take a plea. The courts are congested- they have no time for a trail so you wait, they wait, then come at you again with another offer (5 yrs) you refuse then wait again as you push for a trial. after about 2 years and a new public defender who understood I was not giving in- they finally came back (like I figured they would- they can't afford to take me to trial!) and offered me a 15 year suspended sentence. I took it! You wait it out cuz they don't wanna have to pay for a trial. IMO
IMO everyone should demand a trial- plea deals are not always such great "deals" and if you hold out long enough you just may get a better offer or even a dismissel. IMO Every lawyer involved with these people have done lousy jobs, they have not done anything to benefit their clients they just took whatever the prosecutor offered 'em.