(1) If on the first occasion the accused is required to plead to a charge in an indictment, the accused enters any plea other than a plea of guilty, the proceedings may be adjourned to a status hearing.

(2) If a new trial is ordered (whether at trial or on appeal) the court may order that a status hearing be held.

(3) The court must fix the time and place for a status hearing.

(4) A judge must preside at a status hearing.

(5) At a status hearing the court shall inquire into these matters ¾

(a) whether every requirement imposed by or under the CPA to lodge and serve a document has been complied with;

(b) whether there are any matters that should be dealt with at a pre-trial hearing;

(c) whether the case is ready to go to trial;

(d) the dates when the parties will be available for a trial.

(6) At a status hearing the court may ¾

(a) act under the CPA section 93;

(b) deal with any application under the CPA section 89, 90, 97, 118, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136 or 138;

(c) exercise any of its powers in those sections if it can do so on its own initiative;

(d) exercise any of its powers in the CPA section 98 or 137;

(e) adjourn the status hearing from time to time;

(f) order that a pre-trial hearing be held to deal with specified issues and fix the time and place for it;

(g) fix the date of the trial.

(7) At the conclusion of a status hearing the proceedings must be adjourned to the date of a pre-trial hearing or to the date of the trial, as the case requires.