An examination of facts ordered under section 54(1)(b) of this Act may, where the order is made at the trial diet F1or, in proceedings on indictment, at the first diet (in the case of proceedings in the sheriff court) or the preliminary hearing (in the case of proceedings in the High Court) , be held immediately following the making of the order and, where it is so held, the citation of the accused and any witness to the trial diet F2, first diet or, as the case may be, preliminary hearing shall be a valid citation to the examination of facts.

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Where an accused person is not legally represented at an examination of facts the court shall appoint counsel or a solicitor to represent his interests.

The court may, on the motion of the prosecutor and after hearing the accused, order that the examination of facts shall proceed in relation to a particular charge, or particular charges, in the indictment or, as the case may be, complaint in priority to other such charges.

The court may, on the motion of the prosecutor and after hearing the accused, at any time desert the examination of facts pro loco et tempore as respects either the whole indictment or, as the case may be, complaint or any charge therein.

If, in a case where a court has made a finding under subsection (2) of section 55 of this Act, a person is subsequently charged, whether on indictment or on a complaint, with an offence arising out of the same act or omission as is referred to in subsection (1) of that section, any order made under section 57(2) of this Act shall, with effect from the commencement of the later proceedings, cease to have effect.

For the purposes of subsection (7) above, the later proceedings are commenced when the indictment or, as the case may be, the complaint is served.