Chapter IV: Preparatory proceedings for assize sessions

After questioning the accused in accordance with article 272, the president of the assize court organises a preparatory criminal meeting in chambers. If the accused is in pre-trial detention, the president of the assize court requests a copy of his or her individual detention file. The meeting is held in the presence of the public prosecutor and the lawyers for all the parties, if necessary by any means of telecommunication,…

The proceedings may not commence less than five days after the examination by the president of the assize court. The accused and his lawyer may waive this time limit.

The accused shall not cease to be able to communicate freely with his lawyer. The lawyer may take on the spot communication of all the documents in the case file without such communication causing any delay in the progress of the proceedings.

Copies of the case file shall be issued free of charge to each of the defendants and civil parties.

The public prosecutor and the civil party shall serve on the accused, the accused shall serve on the public prosecutor and, if applicable, on the civil party, as soon as possible and at least one month before the opening of the hearings, the list of persons they wish to be heard as witnesses. The names of the experts called to give an account of the work for which they have…

The list of session jurors as drawn up in accordance with the requirements of Article 266 shall be served on each accused not later than the day before the opening of the trial. This list must contain sufficient particulars to enable the jurors to be identified, with the exception of those concerning their domicile or residence.