Isn't the logic something like this? If the prisoner is ignorant of his crime, he is proving ignorance of the law and/or proof of trying to deceive the court; therefore no matter the prisoner's guilt re: the initial crime, the prisoner is guilty of being ignorant of the law and/or trying to deceive the court. A state, or other actor of similar presence utilising such logic cannot be fought or defeated with logic or reason or truth, only by force.