161. When Case for the Prosecution is served

In a case where the criminal case disclosure procedures apply by virtue of section 159, and on the date the accused is asked by the court how the accused wishes to plead and the accused refuses to plead or does not plead or claims trial, the court must, unless there are good reasons, fix a first criminal case disclosure conference not earlier than 8 weeks from that date.

If, at the first criminal case disclosure conference, or such other date to which the first criminal case disclosure conference has been adjourned under section 238, the defence does not indicate that the accused wishes to plead guilty to the charge, the prosecution must file in court the Case for the Prosecution and serve a copy of this on the accused and every co‑accused (if any) not later than 2 weeks from the date of the first criminal case disclosure conference or such date to which the first criminal case disclosure conference is adjourned.

Where at a criminal case disclosure conference, the defence indicates that the accused wishes to claim trial to more than one charge, the Case for the Prosecution to be served under subsection (2) must only relate to those charges that the prosecution intends to proceed with at the trial.

The court may at any time fix a date for a further criminal case disclosure conference not earlier than 7 days from the date the Case for the Prosecution is to be filed under this section.