PART 10ARRAIGNMENT
Arraignment43.
(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.