(a) Upon the date fixed for the formal plea of guilty by a defendant, the court shall proceed to hear the testimony of any witnesses who may be summoned or offered either by the state or by the defendant or whom the court may direct to be summoned, and it must hear also the testimony of the defendant.
(b) If after hearing the testimony the court believes beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty, in manner and form, of the offense charged against him in the information provided for in Section 15-15-21, the court shall thereupon receive and enter the plea of guilty of such defendant, shall enter judgment of conviction thereon and shall sentence the defendant to such term in the penitentiary as is prescribed by law, any other provisions of the law to the contrary notwithstanding.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 15 - Criminal Procedure.
Section 15-15-20.1 - Non-Capital Felony Offense.
Section 15-15-21 - Information Preferred and Filed Against Defendant.
Section 15-15-22 - Fixing of Date to Formally Make and Enter Plea; Service of Notice.
Section 15-15-24 - Determination of Degree of Offense and Fixing of Punishment; When Jury Impaneled.