20Case where person has been convictedU.K.
(1)If the judge is required to proceed under this section (by virtue of section 11) he must decide whether the person was convicted in his presence.
(2)If the judge decides the question in subsection (1) in the affirmative he must proceed under section 21.
(3)If the judge decides that question in the negative he must decide whether the person deliberately absented himself from his trial.
(4)If the judge decides the question in subsection (3) in the affirmative he must proceed under section 21.
(5)If the judge decides that question in the negative he must decide whether the person would be entitled to a retrial or (on appeal) to a review amounting to a retrial.
(6)If the judge decides the question in subsection (5) in the affirmative he must proceed under section 21.
(7)If the judge decides that question in the negative he must order the person’s discharge.
(8)The judge must not decide the question in subsection (5) in the affirmative unless, in any proceedings that it is alleged would constitute a retrial or a review amounting to a retrial, the person would have these rights—
(a)the right to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing or, if he had not sufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so required;
(b)the right to examine or have examined witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him.
Commencement Information
I1Act wholly in force at 1.1.2004, see s. 221 and S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to arts. 3-5) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3312 art. 2(2))