First Degree Murder~Plea offered~Advice Please

A friend has been offered after 1 year a plea of life with parole and the judge will determine the sentence on a first degree murder charge ...I might add the death penalty is involved here. The defence attorney and doctor of social work is going to fight for 30 years and a mental hospital. If this goes to court there is no defence they are saying that it will be life without parole. My question is....does this sound like a good plea? The attorneys say its best that he stands a great chance at the 30 year mental hospital thing. What is the chances the judge will go for it most of the time the judge stick with the plea only....which is life with parole. Please bare with me here this has weighed heavy in my heart for over a year and were talking life or death. I'm lost here. Would it be best to have the states attorney have the 30 year thing in the plea also? Please help