SCHEDULE 1 – THE CRIMINAL CODE.
PART VIII. – PROCEDURE.
Division 4. – Trial: Adjournment: Pleas: Practice.
570. DEFENCE OF ACCUSED.
(1) A person charged with an offence is entitled to make his defence at his trial and to have the witnesses examined and cross-examined by his lawyer.
(2) A person charged with an offence may, by leave of the court, have his defence conducted by another person who is not a lawyer.
571. PRESENCE OF ACCUSED.
(1) Subject to Subsection (2), a trial must take place in the presence of the accused person, unless he so conducts himself as to render the continuance of the proceedings in his presence impracticable, in which case the court–
(a) may order him to be removed ; and
(b) may direct the trial to proceed in his absence.
(2) The court may, in any case, if it thinks fit, permit a person charged with a misdemeanour to be absent during the whole or any part of the trial on such conditions as it thinks proper.
(3) If the accused person absents himself during the trial without leave, the court may direct a warrant to be issued to arrest him and bring him before the court.
572. EVIDENCE IN DEFENCE.
(1) At the close of the evidence for the prosecution, the proper officer of the court shall ask the accused person or his counsel whether the accused intends to adduce evidence in his defence or whether he desires to make a statement to the court before he or his counsel addresses the court.
(2) Whether or not the accused intends to adduce evidence in his defence he is entitled to make a statement to the court.
(3) When the accused makes a statement to the court he shall make the statement at the close of the evidence for the prosecution and before adducing any evidence in his defence.
EDIT.