264Orders for amendment of indictment, separate trial and

264 Orders for amendment of indictment, separate trial and postponement of trial (1) If, before trial, or at any stage of a trial, it appears to the court that the indictment is defective, the court shall make the order for the amendment of the indictment that the court thinks necessary to meet the circumstances of the case, unless, having regard to the merits of the case, the required amendments cannot be made without injustice. (2) If, before trial, or at any stage of a trial, the court is of opinion that a person accused may be prejudiced or embarrassed in his or her defence because of being charged with more than 1 offence in the same indictment, or that for any other reason it is desirable to direct that the person should be tried separately for 1 or more offences charged in an indictment, the court may order a separate trial of a count or counts of the indictment. (3) If, before trial, or at any stage of a trial, the court is of opinion that the postponement of the trial of a person accused is expedient as a consequence of the exercise of a power of the court under this Act to amend an indictment or to order a separate trial of a count, the court shall make any order that appears necessary. (4) If an order of the court is made under this section for a separate trial, or for the postponement of a trial— (a) if the order is made during a trial—the court may order that the jury are to be discharged from giving a verdict on the count or counts the trial of which is postponed, or on the indictment, as the case may be; and (b) the procedure on the separate trial of a count and the procedure on the postponed trial shall be the same in all respects (if the jury has been discharged), as if the trial had not commenced; and (c) the court may make the order as to admitting the accused person to bail and as to the variation of bail arrangements and otherwise that the court thinks fit. (5) A power of the court under this section shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other power of the court for the same or similar purposes.