The Naval Courts-Martial General Orders (Royal Navy) 1991

Guilty plea

32.  –

(1) If an accused pleads guilty to a charge under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of Order 31, the judge advocate shall, before the court decide to accept the plea, ensure that the accused understands the nature of the charge and general effect of his plea and in particular the difference in procedure when an accused pleads guilty and when an accused pleads not guilty.

(2) A court shall not accept a plea of guilty under either paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of Order 31 if:

(a) the court are not satisfied that the accused understands the nature of the chargeor the effect of his plea; or

(b) the president having regard to all the circumstances, considers that the accused should plead not guilty; or

(c) the accused is liable if convicted to be sentenced to death.

(3) When a plea of guilty under either paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of Order 31 is not accepted by the court or the accused either refuses to plead to the charge or does not plead to it intelligibly, the court shall enter a plea of not guilty.

(4) When a court are satisfied that they can properly accept a plea of guilty under either paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of Order 31 they shall record a finding of guilty in respect thereof.