When sentencing an aider and abettor by presence, the court may properly take into account the accused's active participation in planning and prior events as informing the quality and intent of their presence at the time of the principal offence, without departing from the agreed plea basis. Informal pre-plea discussions between counsel may be relied upon at sentencing only where they constitute an unconditional offer to plead guilty, and such offers should be put in writing as a matter of practice.
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