11 April 2002
44.Section 66 of the 1995 Act contains provision for a notice to be served on the accused along with the indictment in a jury case, calling on him or her to appear to answer the indictment at a specified trial date. Paragraph 4 inserts a new subsection (6A) requiring the notice to contain a written warning to the accused about the necessity of obtaining legal representation for the trial. This is to be in similar terms to the oral warnings given on arrest and at judicial examination. Where the trial is to be held in the High Court, the notice must also call on the accused to appear at the new pre-trial diet to be set under paragraph 7 of the schedule (new section 72A). This means that a specified date, time and venue for the pre-trial diet will require to be included in the notice.