126Directions hearings

126 Directions hearings (1) A court in which an application under Part 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 is commenced may fix a date for a directions hearing to be conducted in relation to the hearing of the application. (2) At a directions hearing the court may give any direction that it considers necessary concerning the hearing of the application. (3) Subject to subsection (4), an offender is entitled to be present at a directions hearing. An offender may be present before the court by audio visual link or audio link in accordance with Part IIA of the **Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act** **1958**. (4) Subsection (3) does not apply to a directions hearing in relation to an application for an emergency detention order if the Supreme Court has ordered under section 88 that the application is to be heard and determined in the absence of the offender.