Defence counsel's conduct in approaching the Crown Prosecutor about a plea arrangement without instructions, advising the accused that the offer is in their interests, showing the accused the strength of the Crown case, and seeking written instructions when the offer is rejected does not constitute improper pressure vitiating a guilty plea. An accused who makes an informed choice to plead guilty to lesser charges to avoid the risk of conviction on more serious charges exercises a free choice, and there is no miscarriage of justice even if the accused does not entertain a genuine consciousness of guilt on the charges to which the plea is entered.
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