[Margaret Pilkington]

I don't think that the accused has a choice in such cases.
But if I am wrong I am sure there will be someone along in a minute to tell us.
I would not like to make judgements on the case you have posted a link to.
I think you would have to be in court, hear all of the evidence before you can make a call.
Ha! I hear you say.....we're you in court for the Clayton Williams case?
No....I wasn't, but I did see the video footage of the policeman being run down.
I cannot believe that anyone could do such a thing and expect the man to survive.....or not to be inflicted with injuries so severe that his life was(in effect) over.
Is 20 years long enough?
Well, that depends. If this guy does not get released for 20 years then it might be(well except that of course we are picking up the bill for keeping this worm).....but if he does not serve all of the sentence then No...it is not enough.
If it were up to me, this guy would spend every waking moment moving huge rocks by hand from one side of a compound to the other.....and then moving them back again the following day.
Make prison hostile and inhospitable.....then maybe they would be less popular places to be.....and criminals may change their ways.
Get rid of the hand wringing liberals who want to give these guys a soft time.