When accused may be required to plead
16 When accused may be required to plead
An accused must not be required to plead to a charge in an indictment until at least 21 days after the date on which the indictment is lodged unless, on an oral application by a party, the court orders otherwise.
If an indictment contains more than one charge and the court is satisfied that the accused is literate, the court may direct that the following is to occur for the purposes of requiring the accused to plead to the charges —
the accused is to be given a copy of the indictment before or at the time of being required to plead and directed to read it; and
at the time of being required to plead —
the accused is to be asked to confirm that he or she has received the copy and has read and understood it; and
the accused is to be read a summary of the offences charged in the indictment; and
the accused is to be asked how he or she pleads to the charges in the indictment.
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