Summary: Criminal law - plea of guilty under s 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 - where all the elements of an offence are admitted in a written plea ofguilty an accused may be convicted accordingly on the basis of the plea - respondent admitted having had sexual intercourse with the 12 year old complainant - sentenceof life imprisonment improperly set aside by the high court on appeal on the basis of lack of evidence of complainant’s age - appeal by the National Director of Prosecutions on a point of law upheld.