@seawulf575 The District Attorney doesn’t make accusations and then the defendant sits in jail. The charges go before the Judge, who looks at the evidence and the mitigating factors. Autopsy reports, witnesses, photos, etc. Then he (the Judge) considers mitigating factors. Has the defendant ever committed any crimes (rap sheet)? Were they violent crimes? Were they similar crimes to the ones he is being charged with now? Does he have a job? Is he a pillar of the community? Does he have the ways and means to flee the country (money, passport, house in Switzerland, etc.)? The Judge makes this determination and the defendant is not sitting in jail before trial without some evidence. The Judge may set bail, may order an ankle bracelet be put on the person for home arrest, any number of things.
Furthermore, if someone accused you of a terrible crime and said you committed this crime on March 12, don’t you think your attorney is going to request proof? If you know you were home on March 12, with your wife, or at the supermarket and there’s video evidence of you being there, and you were home, on the phone, on the computer, saw your neighbor, whatever, are you pleading guilty? Aren’t you asking “what evidence can you show me that I committed this crime, because I know for sure that I didn’t do it. I was home that day and I have a bunch of friends, family and other proof.” If the Shaman plead guilty, the District Attorney must have shown his attorney proof that he would definitely be found guilty, so therefore, plead and do a plea agreement, avoid trial.