Reply #1: Mark Thatcher urged to accept a plea bargain

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Telegraph:
By Jane Flanagan in Johannesburg


Sir Mark Thatcher is under growing pressure from his friends to negotiate a plea bargain with South African authorities over his alleged involvement in a plan to topple the dictator of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.

The Telegraph has learnt that Sir Mark's supporters are urging him to admit to lesser charges, that would not carry a jail sentence, and allow him to move on. A quick trial would allow Sir Mark to rebuild his damaged business and personal life.

It would also allow him to be reunited with his wife, Diane, and their two children, who moved to America to begin a new life shortly after his arrest in August.

The idea of a plea bargain has been given added impetus by the realisation that the South African authorities are seeking to establish a watertight case against Sir Mark, who has strongly rejected charges that he helped to fund the putative coup.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/26/wmark26.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/12/26/ixworld.html

AN INCREASINGLY FRAIL Lady Thatcher, who posted £165,000+ bail for Mark, is holidaying in Cape Town with this dumbwit.

What happens if she pops her clogs from the stress of it all? Marky straight in the slammer? (Scorpions please note...)