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Ontario|Criminal LawTrial Process: Defending a Charge 756 Pleading guilty or not guilty If you have been charged with an offence, you will have to enter your plea in court at the beginning of your trial. To enter a plea means to tell the court whether you are guilty or not guilty of the offence you have been charged with. If you plead not guilty, you are not necessarily denying that you committed the offence. Pleading not guilty just means that you are requiring the Crown prosecutor to prove in court that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you plead guilty, you are admitting that you committed every offence as described by the Crown prosecutor. Facts in support of the plea will be read into the record which you will be asked to acknowledge as correct. Because pleading guilty could have very serious consequences, you should always consult with a lawyer before you enter a guilty plea.
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