Where an accused offers to plead guilty to a lesser offence at the earliest reasonable opportunity during committal proceedings and the Crown rejects that offer, the sentencing judge should ordinarily apply the full 25% discount for the utilitarian value of the plea unless specific circumstances eroding that value are identified. A sentencing judge who applies a lesser discount without identifying such circumstances or making a finding that the plea was not indicated at the first reasonable opportunity will be taken to have mistaken the facts as to the timing of the plea.
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