The strength of the Crown case cannot reduce the utilitarian component of the discount for a guilty plea, and where the plea is early and follows admissions at the first opportunity, the strength of the case does not justify reducing the remorse component either. Admissions of guilt are complementary to a plea of guilty and cannot provide a basis for reducing the plea discount; rather, they provide further mitigatory evidence of acceptance of responsibility. Forfeiture of lawfully acquired property under confiscation legislation constitutes a penalty that must be accorded substantial mitigatory weight in sentencing, not merely 'some weight'.
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