Where an accused delays entering a guilty plea because a forensic psychiatrist has advised that a mental illness defence is available, and the psychiatrist subsequently withdraws that opinion, the reason for the delay must be taken into account in assessing the utilitarian discount for the plea. In such circumstances, a plea entered almost immediately after the withdrawal of the psychiatric opinion may be treated as having been made at the first reasonable opportunity, warranting a discount at or near the maximum of the 10-25% range.
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