Criminal Procedure (District Court) Rules 2008

For the purpose of this rule, the initial hearing of a prosecution commences on the day on which the accused first appears in the court having been committed to the court for trial or sentencing.

At an initial hearing of a prosecution the court may do any of the following —

deal with any application under the CPA section 89, 90, 97, 118, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136 or 138;

exercise any of its powers in those sections if it can do so on its own initiative;

exercise any of its powers in the CPA section 98 or 137;

order that a status hearing be held under the Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 rule 33 and fix the time and place for it;

order that a pre-trial hearing be held under the Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 rule 34 and fix the time and place for it;

fix the time and place for the trial or sentencing proceedings;

adjourn the initial hearing from time to time.