(1) Where an accused has been sent forward for trial in respect of an indictable offence, the court before which the accused is to stand trial (in this Part referred to as the "trial court") may, of its own motion or upon the application of the prosecution or the accused, hold one, or more than one, hearing pursuant to this section (in this Part referred to as a "preliminary trial hearing") where the court is satisfied that -

(a) it would be conducive to the expeditious and efficient conduct of the proceedings, and

(b) it is not contrary to the interests of justice,

for the hearing to be held.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the trial court shall, where -

(a) an accused is charged with a relevant offence,

(b) the prosecution or the accused makes an application to the court for a preliminary trial hearing to be held, and

(c) no preliminary trial hearing has previously been held in respect of the trial of such offence,