Roberge on the other hand is rolling the dice with a trial. If as we heard she was a mere unwitting accomplice, duped by Lagace, she could conceivably get a better plea deal. Or she could roll the dice with trial and get a bigger sentence. A lot of people have posted that her father supposedly has a big political dick but that means fucking squat in a jury trial... ... I think Roberge's trial attorneys have their work cut out for them. Best chance is to find errors in the investigation, procedural errors that will possibly negate some evidence from coming in.
I agree with you, EagerBeaver. First point i want to specify is Roberge's father is not as politically connected as someone said over here. The father knows the deputy Francois Bonnardel, who is a member of the secondary opposition party (CAQ)...
As you said, she could get an even better sentence, if she pleads guilty, since she seems to have a smaller involvment or knowledge, let's say... the worst that could happen is an identical sentence, with possibility of parole in february 2021.
If she decides to go to trial, she could face a longer sentence. Isabelle Lagace will probably be obligated to testify against her. If Lagace refuses to testify against her, they could refuse her parole in 2021 and keep her until 2024 if they want.
If you look at the best outcome, that she goes to trial and is found not guilty. It will cost her family thousands of dollars of legal fees. The trial was supposed to start last august and was postponed to next february. With court cases taking years before being completed, she could be be released around the same time (2021) then Lagace...
I think she should really jump on the offer right now if she can plea guilty.