a

any time before a date has been fixed for one of the following—

i

a preliminary hearing in the High Court,

ii

a first diet in the sheriff court, or

iii

a hearing at which the evidence is to be given, or

b

if a date has been fixed—

i

for a preliminary hearing in the High Court, no later than 14 clear days before the preliminary hearing,

ii

for a first diet in the sheriff court in the case of proceedings on indictment, no later than 7 clear days before the first diet, or

iii

in a case in which the proceedings are not to take place in the High Court or on indictment in the sheriff court, for a hearing at which the evidence is to be given, no later than 14 clear days before that hearing.