If you think your client is guilty, which action is required?

• A. Ensure confession is true and voluntary
• B. Must not falsely suggest someone else committed the offence
• C. Must not set up an affirmative case inconsistent with the confession
• D. Must refuse to continue acting if client insists on giving evidence denying guilt or requires the making of a statement asserting their innocence

Answer: (A)

The key duty here is to avoid assisting in or presenting false evidence. When you think your client is guilty and they provide a confession, the important step is to ensure that confession is true and voluntary. This means checking that the admission is freely given, not obtained by coercion, pressure, or improper influence, and that the client understands its consequences. This protects the integrity of the proceedings and helps prevent perjury or false evidence from influencing the case. If the confession is genuine, you can advise on its proper use and how it fits with the rest of the defence, rather than proposing or fabricating a case that contradicts what was confessed. The other options touch on avoiding false leads or pressing a client to lie, which are not the action taken when a confession is real and voluntary.