Article 56 Arraignment

(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 judge advocate 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 judge advocate 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 judge advocate), 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 judge advocate, or

(b)

the defendant does not plead (or does not plead intelligibly) to the charge,

the judge advocate shall record a plea of not guilty.