The Armed Forces (Service Civilian Court) Rules 2009

Arraignment

43.—(1) A defendant shall be arraigned in preliminary proceedings on each charge brought against him, but need not be arraigned on every charge at the same time.

(2) A defendant shall be required to plead separately to each charge on which he is arraigned.

(3) Where a defendant pleads guilty to a charge, the court may accept the plea if satisfied that the defendant understands—

(a) the nature of the charge;

(b) the general effect of the plea; and

(c) the difference in procedure following pleas of guilty and not guilty.

(4) Where the court accepts a plea of a guilty to a charge—

(a) the defendant shall stand convicted of the charge; and

(b) unless there is a further charge against him to which he has not pleaded guilty (or as respects which a plea of guilty has not been accepted by the court), the court administration officer shall appoint a time and place for sentencing proceedings.

(5) Where—

(a) a plea of guilty is not accepted by the court, or

(b) the defendant does not plead (or does not plead intelligibly) to the charge,

the court shall record a plea of not guilty.