George Michael's plea confusion

09-05-2007 11:30

George Michael pleaded "not guilty" to driving while unfit through drugs before changing his mind yesterday (08.05.07).The 'Careless Whisper' singer pleaded "not guilty", and then after a huddle with his legal team, who could be heard whispering "no, guilty" the 43-year-old said "OK, guilty".George said in court: "There are two reasons why we are here today. The first being I did something very stupid and I have been ashamed of since doing it. "I'm not used to defending myself in a position where I am ashamed of something."If I had known the day after the charge was brought that the legal option of accepting a punishment without taking responsibility for something I didn't feel I was guilty of I could have saved everybody here a lot of time."I'm perfectly aware that I did something very wrong when I got in my car when I was unfit to drive. I am totally prepared to accept the correct punishment for that."The singer - real name Georgios Panayiotou - was found slumped behind the wheel of his Mercedes near his home in North London last October.