Section 345A — Crimes Act 1961: Time for filing indictment

345A Time for filing indictment (1) Unless an extension is obtained under section 345B of this Act, an indictment shall be filed not later than 42 days after the date on which the accused is committed for trial. (2) In reckoning the period referred to in subsection (1) of this section, the period commencing on the 24th day of December and ending with the close of the 15th day of January shall be disregarded. (3) If the time for filing an indictment expires on any day on which the office of the Court is closed and it is not possible for the indictment to be filed on that day by reason of that closure, the indictment shall be filed on the next day on which that office is open if it has not already been filed. (4) If an indictment is filed, the prosecutor shall forthwith forward a copy of the indictment,— (a) If the accused is known by the prosecutor to be represented by counsel or a solicitor, to that counsel or solicitor; or (b) In any other case, to the accused at his or her last known address. (5) The accused is entitled to uplift a copy of the indictment from the Registrar at any time after it has been filed. Sections 345A to 345D were inserted, as from 1 March 1996, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1995 (1995 No 68). See section 5 of that Act for the savings provision relating to indictments. See also clause 2 Crimes Amendment Act Commencement Order 1996 (SR 1996/1).